FERC Data: Renewables Now 21% Of U.S.' Energy Capacity - Solar Industry

Even though natural gas dominated new electrical generating capacity in 2018, renewable energy sources seem poised to swamp fossil fuels as new generating capacity is added over the next three years, according to a SUN DAY Campaign analysis of newly released data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

FERC’s “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with data through Dec. 31, 2018) notes that new natural gas generation placed in service in 2018 totaled 20,048 MW, or 64.9% of the total (30,881 MW).

Renewable sources (biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind) accounted for 10,392 MW, or 33.7%. The balance (1.4%) was provided by nuclear (350 MW), waste heat (51 MW), oil (25 MW), coal (10 MW) and “other” (5 MW).

Supported by a late surge of new generating facilities in December (1,943 MW), wind ended 2018 with 6,028 MW of additional capacity for the year, or over 19.5% of the total. It was followed by solar (4,181 MW), or 13.5%. However, new capacity from wind and solar combined in 2018 (10,209 MW) was actually one-quarter less than that added in 2017 (13,601 MW), SUN DAY points out.

FERC’s numbers also reveal that renewable sources now account for 21.0% of total available installed U.S. generating capacity. Five years ago, renewables were 16.0%. Their total installed generating capacity has increased by 35.6% over the past half-decade (from 185.16 GW to 250.99 GW). Utility-scale solar has now reached 3.0% of the nation’s generating capacity while hydropower and wind account for 8.4% and 7.9%, respectively.....article continues
FERC Data: Renewables Now 21% Of U.S.' Energy Capacity - Solar Industry: Even though natural gas dominated new electrical generating capacity in 2018, renewable energy sources seem poised to swamp fossil fuels as new generating capacity is added over the next three years, according to a SUN DAY Campaign analysis of newly released data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC’s “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with …