The latest IEA monthly report demonstrates the speed USA electricity is going renewable energy – rapidly. Almost all new energy (99.6%) of USA’s 55.9 GW net utility-scale capacity additions (additions minus retirements) in the next 12 months will be solar, wind, batteries and other RE. Gas net addition is the only other addition of 0.358 GW. The data comes from EIA Monthly Power Monthly.
Total fossil fuel capacity (coal, gas, oil etc) falls by 2.68 GW as retirements exceed new additions. No coal is added, and 2.59 GW is to be retired in next 12 months. Gas nearly has as many retirements as new additions, with a net increase of just 358 MW.
- New utility-scale solar skyrockets to 36GW, up ~150% compared to 2022.
- Batteries add 12.3GW, up from 5.4GW.
- Onshore wind adds 6.6GW & Offshore wind 2.1GW
In an article renewable energy has taken up all new energy demand over the past decade, although Ember-Climate suggests peak emissions will occur in 2023/24 as fossil fuel plants start being replaced with solar wind and batteries.
American Clean Power USA Energy Storage Monitor
The U.S. now has 262 GW of clean energy powering its grid, which is enough electricity to power the equivalent of 69 million American homes. As a result, the nation now generates 16% of its electricity from wind and solar.
- Battery storage up 101% in Q4 2024 compared with previous quarter. 4.2GW deployed.
- 26 GW deployed over 5 years.
- 32.4GW in 2023
- 177GW solar deployed in USA total
Which states is USA Electricity Going Renewable?
Rapid Change in Renewable Energy
Only 12 months ago, the USA was a laggard. No more. The IRA Act has spurred growth.
USA saw coal generation fall by over a third between 2015 and 2022. However, the total fossil share fell by only 7% as gas generation expanded in the same period. Wind and solar have shown strong recent growth, generating 15% of electricity in 2022, above the global average. The US has lagged on energy transition compared to other advanced economies, with 60% of electricity still from fossil fuels.
Ember-Climate Global Electricity Review 2023
References
- US Energy Information Agency (Jan 2024) Electricity Power Monthly. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/index.php
- Ember Climate Global Electricity Review 2023 2023 https://ember-climate.org/countries-and-regions/countries/united-states-of-america/
- EIA Energy projections https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/AEO2023_Release_Presentation.pdf
- Wood Mckenzie and American Clean Power 2024 US Energy Storage Monitor https://cleanpower.org/resources/u-s-energy-storage-monitor/
