🏭 Wind and solar energy produce more electricity than coal in the US

🏭 Wind and solar energy produce more electricity than coal in the US

Wind and solar energy generated more electricity than coal in the USA during the first seven months of the year. In the USA, almost twice as much solar energy will be added compared to last year.

Mathias Sundin
Mathias Sundin

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  • Wind and solar energy generated more electricity than coal in the USA during the first seven months of the year.
  • In the USA, 36.4 gigawatts of solar energy capacity will be added in 2024, almost double the previous year.
  • Renewable energy has helped stabilize the power grid during extreme weather conditions.

Historic turning point in USA's energy production

For the first time, wind and solar energy have generated more electricity than coal in the USA during the first seven months of the year. This is according to a report from the US Energy Information Administration.

Wind energy has shown remarkable growth and surpassed coal power in electricity production for two consecutive months this year. In March, wind power plants generated 45.9 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, compared to coal's 38.4 GWh. In April, wind energy reached a record level of 47.7 GWh, while coal produced 37.2 GWh.

Extensive expansion of renewable energy sources

The USA is set to add 36.4 gigawatts of solar energy capacity in large-scale electricity production during 2024, which is almost double the previous year's 18.4 gigawatts. Wind energy production also increased by about eight percent from 2023. In June 2024, an additional 2.5 gigawatts of wind power had been installed, and another 4.5 gigawatts are expected to be in place by the end of the year.

Over the past 25 years, wind power capacity in the USA has increased from 2.4 gigawatts in 2000 to over 150 gigawatts in spring 2024. Solar energy capacity has increased by more than 99 gigawatts during the same period. Meanwhile, coal power capacity has steadily decreased and reached 177.1 gigawatts in April 2024, down from 315.1 gigawatts in 2000.

Renewable energy sources strengthen the power grid

The increasing share of renewable energy sources has played an important role in improving the power grid's resilience, especially during extreme weather conditions. As summer temperatures rose in 2024, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar helped meet the increasing energy demand without causing significant disruptions.

In Texas, wind, solar, and battery storage contributed to stabilizing the electricity infrastructure during the summer heat waves. In California, authorities praised renewable energy and battery storage for preventing major power outages, despite the state experiencing its warmest month ever in July.

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