According to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) renewable energy sources are contributing to energy-producing capacity in the United States.
In the first half of the year, utility-scale capacity totaled 14,352 MW, with wind and solar power accounting to 67.01%. Geothermal 26 MW, hydropower 7 MW, and biomass 2 MW increased the total capacity. The remaining 4,695 MW was provided by oil and natural gas. In 2022, it was decided not to add more capacity by coal or nuclear power facilities.
The 145 MW Panorama Wind Farm in Colorado and the 200 MW Heartland Divide Wind II Project in Iowa are few instances showing increased capacity. Examples of new solar generation include the 108 MW Emerald Grove Solar Project in Texas, and the 250 MW Athos Solar Energy Project in California.
Recent additions have raised the proportion of renewable energy in the nation’s installed generating capacity to 26.74 percent. Renewable energy sources accounted for 19.70% of total electricity just five years ago, in 2012. Ten years ago, this percentage was 14.76 percent.
FERC Predict That Power Generation from Renewable Energy Sources Will Expand Quickly In The Near Future
The FERC data reveals some very striking trends for the following three years till June 2025.
According to FERC, there may be up to 192,507 MW of new solar energy under construction. The utility-scale solar installation capacity of 74,530 MW will triple if all pipeline projects successfully finished.
Additionally, there will be addition of a total of 70,393 MW of additional wind capacity by June 2025. The installed wind capacity will increase by at least 12%, and maybe substantially more.
The prediction is that over the next three years there will be a net increase of 83,540 MW, or more than 2,300 MW per month.
Potential Future of Non-Renewable Resources
According to every new FERC Infrastructure report published each month, the outlook for renewable energy sources grows while it declines for natural gas, coal, and nuclear power. It is unexpected how FERC anticipates the development of only 4,319 MW of net new natural gas capacity. Less net new gas capacity will exist by June 2025 than there was in the first half of 2022. FERC predicted 21,679 MW of net new natural gas additions in the following years.
Recent reports of a sharp reduction in natural gas pipeline building herald a significant change in the outlook for the sector. Hence, the anticipation is that the renewable energy sources will produce most of the nation’s electricity by the end of this decade.
