The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) published its latest Electric Power Monthly report showing utility-scale and small-scale solar, wind power, and hydropower made up the second-most used energy source in the country. It only trails behind natural gas, and solar looks to eclipse wind and hydropower as the most-used renewable energy as of March 31.
The report says rooftop solar increased by 25.7% in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024. Small-scale solar is up 20.4%, while utility-scale solar thermal and photovoltaics (PVs) are up 28.4%. It is an unsubstantiated growth in the first four months of the year. Electrek reported that renewables make up almost 30% of the U.S.’s electricity generation.
The data shows that coal use has plummeted from more than 1.5 million megawatts (MW) to just over 675,000 MW in the last 10 years. Natural gas use is up, almost cracking the 2 million MW threshold. Nuclear (775,000+ MW), solar (164,000+), hydroelectric (239,000+), and renewables, excluding hydro and solar sources (489,000+), are all up or relatively unchanged.
Photo Courtesy American Public Power Association
According to EIA, conventional hydroelectric power rose 4.3% this year after going through declines in 2023.
The report also pointed to a 2.8% decline in wind year-over-year in Q1 2024. However, wind had a 2.9% year-over-year increase in the March.
Power plants are also getting cleaner. A report by Canary Media said that the U.S. is adding 55% more capacity to the power grid than it did in 2023. The EIA said there is an expected 62.8 GW increase — the most in a year since 2003. Utility providers, municipalities, and private developers are working to add solar to meet power needs.
A chart created by Maria Virginia Olano at Canary Media broke down some of the grid capacity for renewables in the U.S. Solar made up around 58%, with battery storage coming in second with 23%.
Photo Courtesy Chris LeBoutillier
Fossil fuels are getting smaller, too. Much like coal, the emphasis on clean energy and better-performing PV technology are pushing the traditional forms of power to the back of the line. Natural gas still accounts for more than 40% of the U.S. electricity, and coal use is around 20%, but that number is falling.
Solar is booming in states like Texas and California. The Inflation Reduction Act’s tax incentives are driving down the cost of solar and making it cheaper to produce solar tech domestically. The government has poured billions into deploying clean energy microgrids and other systems across rural America.
More businesses are adding solar to reap the benefits of lower energy bills. Solar systems are only going to get better, too. It could get to a point where it becomes the dominant form of energy, even ahead of natural gas. Natural gas is also expected to slow down its growth this summer. As renewables expand, natural gas is used as supplemental power rather than the primary generator.
