EIA data shows continuing US gas boom

• 10 years ago (2014-04-08)
• Junior Isles

North America 1021 Renewables 776

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New data from the US EIA shows that natural gas-fired power plants accounted for more than 50 per cent of new utility-scale generating capacity added in the US during 2013, and that California alone accounted for half of all capacity additions.

Solar PV provided nearly 22 per cent of new capacity, a substantial increase on the 6 per cent 2012 figure, with coal providing 11 per cent and wind nearly 8 per cent. All in all, more than 13 500 MW of new US capacity came on line in 2013, a figure less than half of that added in 2012.

Despite huge gains, natural gas additions were down overall on 2012’s figure, with 6861 MW added in 2013 compared with 9210 MW the previous year. California accounted for 60 per cent of new 2013 natural gas capacity largely due to the need for backup to intermittent renewables.

Aside from gas, solar PV was the big capacity winner adding 2193 MW of utility scale generation above 1 MW during 2013 and continuing a trend of positive growth over the past few years. Once distributed capacity less than 1 MW is included, a further 1900 MW of solar can be added to the headline figure, according to industry estimates, with the vast majority of both kinds of capacity located in California.

Solar thermal saw a substantial uptick in 2013 with the completion of several plants in Arizona and California totalling 766 MW of new capacity. These additions more than double the total solar thermal capacity in the United States, and pave the way for further growth with a few more projects expected to be completed during 2014-16.

Two delayed coal plants, the 937 MW Sandy Creek Energy Station in Texas and 571 MW Edwardsport plant in Indiana, originally scheduled to come on line in 2011-12 account for all new coal capacity added during 2013.

New wind capacity saw the most dramatic year on year fall of all energy sources, falling to 1032 MW from 12 885 MW in 2012. This was down to a regulatory quirk that fuelled a rush to complete wind projects in 2012 and qualify for federal production tax credit. Over 90 per cent of the wind generation capacity additions in 2013 were in California, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, and New York.