Solar has been the largest source of new generating capacity in the US over the past 12 months

Credit: Alliant Energy

A review by Campaign SUN DAY of data recently released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reveals that the combination of renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) accounted for more than 90 % of total US electricity. generating capacity added in the first two-thirds of 2024. August was the twelfth consecutive month in which solar was the largest source of new capacity and during which it provided nearly 100% of all new capacity.

Renewables accounted for 99.8% of new generation capacity in August and 90.1% in the first two-thirds of 2024

In its latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” (with data through August 31, 2024), FERC states that 29 solar power “units” totaling 1,404 MW were placed into service in August, along with one biomass unit (3MW). Combined, they represented 99.8% of all new generating capacity added during the month. Natural gas provided the balance: 3MW.

During the first eight months of 2024, solar and wind added 16,546 MW and 2,270 MW, respectively. Combined with 212 MW of hydropower and 6 MW of biomass, renewables accounted for 90.1% of added capacity. The balance consisted of the 1,100 Vogtle-4 nuclear reactors in Georgia, plus 977 MW of gas, 11 MW of oil and 3 MW of “other.”

Solar reached 99.6% of new capacity in August and 78.3% during the first eight months of 2024

New solar capacity added from January to August this year was more than double the solar capacity (8,248 MW) added during the same period last year. Solar energy accounted for 78.3% of all new generation put into service in the first two-thirds of 2024.

Year-to-date new wind capacity accounted for much of the 10.7% balance, but was slightly less than that added during the same period in 2023 (2,761 MW).

In August alone, solar energy accounted for 99.6% of all new capacity added.

Solar energy has now been the largest source of new generating capacity added each month for twelve consecutive months: September 2023 – August 2024.

Solar + wind now represent 21% of US generating capacity

The combined capacities of solar and wind alone now constitute more than a fifth (21.0%) of the country’s total available utility-scale installed generation capacity: wind – 11.74%; solar – 9.21%.

However, approximately 30% of U.S. solar capacity is in the form of small-scale systems (e.g., rooftops) that are not reflected in FERC data. Adding this additional solar capacity would bring the share provided by solar + wind closer to a quarter of the country’s total.

With the inclusion of hydroelectric energy (7.7%), biomass (1.1%) and geothermal energy (0.3%), renewable energy now represents a 30.1% share of total energy capacity. U.S. utility-scale production.

Solar’s share of US generating capacity is greater than nuclear or hydropower

The latest capacity additions have raised solar’s share of total available utility-scale installed generating capacity (i.e., >1 MW) to 9.2%, further expanding its lead over nuclear power (8, 0%) and hydroelectric energy (7.7%).

Solar energy installed on a public service scale has now moved to fourth place – behind natural gas (43.3%), coal (15.7%) and wind energy – due to its share of production capacity.

Solar power will soon become the second largest source of US generating capacity

FERC reports that “high probability” net additions of solar power between September 2024 and August 2027 total 91,167 MW – an amount more than four times the “high probability” net additions predicted for wind power (22,159 MW). , the second fastest growing resource.

FERC also forecasts growth for hydropower (1,280 MW), biomass (124 MW) and geothermal (90 MW). On the other hand, there is no new nuclear capacity in FERC’s three-year forecast, while coal, oil and natural gas are expected to contract by 21,377 MW, 2,114 MW and 1,606 MW, respectively.

If FERC’s current “high probability” additions materialize, by September 1, 2027, solar will account for more than one-seventh (15.2%) of the nation’s utility-scale installed generating capacity. This would be greater than coal (13.2%) or wind power (12.6%) and substantially more than nuclear power (7.5%) or hydropower (7.3%). The installed capacity of large-scale solar energy would thus rise to second place – behind only natural gas (40.3%).

Meanwhile, the combination of all renewable energies would represent 36.4% of the total installed utility-scale production capacity – quickly approaching that of natural gas – with solar and wind constituting more than three-quarters of the capacity. installed renewable energy.

The combined capabilities of all renewables, including small-scale solar, remain on track to exceed natural gas within three years:

As noted, FERC data does not take into account the capacity of small-scale solar systems. If this is taken into account, within three years, total US solar capacity (i.e. small-scale plus utility scale) is expected to surpass 300 GW. In turn, the mix of all renewable energies would then exceed 40% of total installed capacity, while the share of natural gas would fall to around 37%.

Additionally, FERC reports that there could be up to 212,412 MW of net new solar additions in the current three-year pipeline, in addition to 67,395 MW of new wind power, 8,944 MW of new hydropower, 199 MW of new geothermal power, and 195 MW. of new biomass. Thus, the share of renewable energy could be even higher at the end of summer 2027.

“Every month for an entire year, solar energy has led the supply of new generating capacity in the U.S.,” noted SUN DAY Campaign Executive Director Ken Bossong. “And it is poised to continue dominating capacity additions for at least the next three years.”

SUN DAY Campaign News