Renewables make up almost 100 per cent of new US capacity

• 10 years ago (2014-02-22)
• Junior Isles

North America 1004 Renewables 757

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Almost 100 per cent of new US generation capacity during January came from renewables, according to data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week.

Some 325 MW of new capacity was added to the US grid during January, with solar making up 287 MW, geothermal 30 MW, wind 4 MW and biomass 3 MW. FERC classified the final MW added as ‘other’.

Renewables, including hydro, account for just over 16 per cent of the US’s total installed operating capacity, with the majority of the energy mix dominated by various fossil fuels. On the generation front, more intermittent renewables, again including hydro, accounted for about 13 per cent of total net generation, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

January’s positive renewables numbers match those from earlier months, with 100 per cent of the 394 MW of new capacity added in November coming from renewable sources, 99 per cent of the 699 MW added in October, and 100 per cent of the 44 MW of new generation capacity added in March.