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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/solar-small-scale

EIA classifies a PV system as 'small-scale' if its capacity is under what size?

Under 1 megawatt (1,000 kW).

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  1. Under 1 kW
  2. Under 100 MW
  3. Under 1 MW (1,000 kW) ✔

Why: Rooftop systems on homes and most businesses are small-scale. Utility-scale plants have at least 1 MW of capacity.

Huh, didn't know that: EIA says most small-scale PV systems are on buildings and are sometimes called rooftop PV systems.

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Why did the megawatt feel big? It was a thousand kilowatts of confidence.
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References

Answer: Under 1 MW (1,000 kW). Rooftop systems on homes and most businesses are small-scale. Utility-scale plants have at least 1 MW of capacity.

  1. EIA: Photovoltaics and Electricity www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/photovoltaics-and-electricity.php
    Small-scale PV systems have less than 1,000 kilowatts of electricity-generation capacity.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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