Utility-scale solar is large scale (sometimes defined as greater than 1 MW^[1] or sometimes 4 MW_AC ) solar power either from: A photovoltaic power station at a scale large enough to be classified as 'utility-scale'; or Concentrated solar power whereas rooftop solar is usually smaller. The utility-scale solar sector has led the overall U.S. solar market in terms of installed capacity since 2012.^[2] Increasingly batteries are co-located,^[3] in order to sell into the evening peak of the duck curve.^[4] Output voltages reach 1000VAC as of 2021.^[5] They can sometimes be agrovoltaics.^[6]

Utility-scale refers to electrical plant or equipment, whose operation, as an individual entity would cause a noticeable change in the operation of a utility.^{[citation needed]} For example, a single domestic PV panel, on its own has no discernible effect on the operation of a power network. A 1 MW installation can impact on local voltage, and disturb system frequency. In some countries, it is competitive with wind power.^[7][8] In many countries it is cheaper than new fossil fuel power plants and in a few in the Middle East is becoming cheaper than existing fossil fuel plants as of 2021.^[9] The cost reduction is expected to spread to other countries.^[9]

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