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US‘s wind and #solar will generate more power than #coal in 2024

Utility-scale solar generation is up by over 30% amid future uncertainties.
John Timmer – Jan 27, 2025

"The rapid growth of #renewables has largely displaced #FossilFuel generation—specifically coal—rather than meeting increased demand. Despite the rise in demand, however, the long-term decline in coal has continued in 2024, with generation via coal down by nearly 5 percent. This will mean that this is the first year that wind and solar will combine to outproduce coal. Collectively, they'll account for roughly 17 percent of the US's energy production, while coal will only provide about 15 percent.

"The boost in wind and solar production has also been larger than the increase in generation from natural gas, which remains the single largest source of power on the grid, generating nearly 44 percent of the electricity used in the US.

"While wind currently accounts for 60 percent of the 'wind plus solar' figure, it's unlikely to stay on top for long. Generation from wind power grew by 7.6 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. By contrast, utility-scale solar generation increased by 31 percent over that same period, with small-scale solar (including rooftop installations) estimated to have increased by 15 percent.

"Adding in #hydropower and a handful of minor sources like #geothermal brings the total renewable electricity generated in the first 11 months of 2024 up to 23 percent of the total demand. Adding in nuclear to get the total of emissions-free generation brings the total up to 41 percent—just shy of the 44 percent produced by natural gas.

[...]

"But changes in policy are almost certainly on the way. The flurry of executive orders issued by the Trump administration includes a number of energy-related changes. These include defining "energy" in a way that excludes wind and solar, an end to offshore wind leasing and the threat to terminate existing leases, and a re-evaluation of the allocation of funds from some of the Biden administration's energy-focused laws.

"In essence, this sets up a clash among economics, state policies, and federal policy. Even without any subsidies, wind and solar are the cheapest ways to produce electricity in much of the US. In addition, a number of states have mandates that will require the use of more renewable energy. At the same time, the permitting process for the plants and their grid connections will often require approvals at the federal level, and it appears to be official policy to inhibit renewables when possible. And a number of states are also making attempts to block new renewable power installations.

"It's going to be a challenging period for everyone involved in #RenewableEnergy."

Read more:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/01/us-solar-boom-continues-but-its-offset-by-rising-power-use/
#SolarPower #WindPower #RenewablesNow #SolarPunkSunday