The U.S. Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced findings from a data analysis it performed for more than 30,000 solar photovoltaic installations across the U.S. The analysis aimed to better understand how interconnection regulations line up with actual project completion timelines.

The NREL analysis shows that interconnection process delays are common and can last from several days to months. By streamlining the application review and final authorization processes, solar consumers can go solar in a shorter amount of time and for less money, NREL says.

"We now have a clearer understanding of the different process elements associated with connecting a PV system to the grid, such as how long it takes to review and approve an application for interconnection, how long it takes to construct and inspect a system, and how long it takes to get final authorization from the utility," says the report's lead author, Kristen Ardani, a solar technology markets and policy analyst at NREL.

In residential and small commercial systems sampled in the report, the process took an average of 63 total business days, although there was a range from less than one week to more than six months.

System construction was the fastest part of the process, taking an average of four business days. Interconnection application review and approval accounted for most of the time, requiring an average of 27 business days to complete.

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