The state of solar development in Indiana can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Indiana is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development.
We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Indiana and how to access them.
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Indiana Solar Energy Activity
As of October 2023, Indiana has 85 solar farms already operating with a current capacity of 754 MW1 and a current electricity generation of 69,088 MWh. Indiana has a significant amount of operating solar farms compared to the other states in the US, and it has a massive development of solar farms with 8 solar farms under construction of 225 MW capacity total, 13 planned solar farms with 1,328 MW capacity total, as well as 315 Utility-Scale Queued projects and 19 site control projects. Overall, if all planned and under construction farms go into operating status, Indiana will expand its capacity by 1606.87 MW. That’s a 213% growth in capacity for the state! In Indiana, the average solar farm size is 42.5 acres, producing 7.2 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Indiana needs an average of 5.9 acres per MW of capacity.
Historically, Indiana has been known for their coal production and coal-driven economy. Solar development and the implementation of renewable energy sources only recently picked up pace, as Indiana shifted from 89% to 53% coal usage for its electricity needs over the span of 2009 to 2019. The surge in solar development since 2020 has been greatly influenced by recent federal policies, and Indiana's state-level incentives, which are discussed in more detail below, have also contributed to the increase in queued solar projects.
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