US solar is booming - here's the newly released data

[Think. Again.]

Michelle Lewis | Sep 29 2023 - 10:00 am PT
Full Article: https://electrek.co/2023/09/29/us-solar-is-booming-heres-the-newly-released-data/

US solar is growing at a breakneck speed, and it hit several big milestones in July, according to newly released government data.

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In the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through July 31, 2023. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_es1a ), EIA reports that solar-generated electricity increased by 22.3% during the month compared to July 2022. This growth rate was greater than for any other energy source and was driven in part by a 26.6% expansion in the electricity EIA estimates to have been provided by small-scale solar photovoltaics, such as rooftop solar.

Estimated total solar in all sectors reached 26,785 gigawatt-hours (GWh) – or 6.2% of all electricity generated – and surpassed that provided by hydropower (21,500 GWh) while nearly equaling that provided by the US’s utility-scale wind farms (27,726 GWh).

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If just the “high probability” additions materialize, by mid-summer 2026, solar will account for more than 12.9% of the US’s installed generating capacity. That would be more than wind (12.4%). Solar’s installed generating capacity by July 2026 would also surpass oil (2.6%) and nuclear power (7.5%) combined, as well as approach that of coal (13.8%).

In three years, natural gas would still comprise the largest share of installed generating capacity (41.8%) but the mix of all renewable sources (i.e., solar plus wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass) would total 34.1%, and thus be on track to further reduce natural gas’ lead.

SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong noted:

"Solar’s strong growth in both new capacity and actual electrical generation confirms that the emergence of the solar era is well under way.

Within three years, it will account for over an eighth of US generating capacity while the combined generating capacity of all renewable sources will be greater than that of either coal or nuclear power and approaching that of natural gas."

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Full Article: https://electrek.co/2023/09/29/us-solar-is-booming-heres-the-newly-released-data/