In a major milestone for the clean energy transition, renewable energy sources have for the first time exceeded coal both in generation and capacity in the U.S. electricity sector.
Renewables Generate More Electricity Than Coal
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that: "In April 2019, U.S. monthly electricity generation from renewable sources exceeded coal-fired generation for the first time based on data in EIA’s Electric Power Monthly. Renewable sources provided 23% of total electricity generation to coal’s 20%. This outcome reflects both seasonal factors as well as long-term increases in renewable generation and decreases in coal generation. EIA includes utility-scale hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass in its definition of renewable electricity generation."
Renewables Generate More Electricity Than Coal
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that: "In April 2019, U.S. monthly electricity generation from renewable sources exceeded coal-fired generation for the first time based on data in EIA’s Electric Power Monthly. Renewable sources provided 23% of total electricity generation to coal’s 20%. This outcome reflects both seasonal factors as well as long-term increases in renewable generation and decreases in coal generation. EIA includes utility-scale hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass in its definition of renewable electricity generation."
Renewable Power Capacity Also Exceeds Coal
The trend towards renewables is also reflected in installed power generation capacity statistics published by the Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC's April 2019 Energy Infrastructure Update reports that coal accounted for 21.55% of total US installed capacity, while renewables accounted for 21.56%.
The trend towards renewables is also reflected in installed power generation capacity statistics published by the Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC's April 2019 Energy Infrastructure Update reports that coal accounted for 21.55% of total US installed capacity, while renewables accounted for 21.56%.
Source: FERC Energy Infrastructure Update (April 2019)
Long Term Trends
Despite the shift away from coal, the U.S. is still dependent on fossil fuels for electricity generation, with natural gas accounting for 44.44% of generation capacity. In addition, the EIA forecasts that coal will generate more electricity than renewables on an average annual basis in 2019 and 2020. However, both EIA and FERC statistics only report data for utility-scale facilities, which do not reflect the contribution of distributed small-scale renewables, such as the millions of roof-top solar systems that account for approximately 30% of the nation's electrical generation by solar. Projected capacity additions indicate that renewables capacity will grow at a faster rate than fossil fuel capacity, such that renewables will likely supply the largest share of US electricity supply within a few years.
Despite the shift away from coal, the U.S. is still dependent on fossil fuels for electricity generation, with natural gas accounting for 44.44% of generation capacity. In addition, the EIA forecasts that coal will generate more electricity than renewables on an average annual basis in 2019 and 2020. However, both EIA and FERC statistics only report data for utility-scale facilities, which do not reflect the contribution of distributed small-scale renewables, such as the millions of roof-top solar systems that account for approximately 30% of the nation's electrical generation by solar. Projected capacity additions indicate that renewables capacity will grow at a faster rate than fossil fuel capacity, such that renewables will likely supply the largest share of US electricity supply within a few years.
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