Solar, wind account for over half of new US generation in 2014

According to a new report out of the US, renewable energy provides at least 55 per cent of new electrical generating capacity in the first half 2014.

The latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects, says that solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydropower provided 55.7% of new installed U.S. electrical generating capacity during the first half of 2014, or 1,965 MW of the 3,529 MW total installed.

Solar has accounted for nearly a third (32.1 per cent or 1,131 MW) of new generating capacity thus far. Wind provided 19.8 per cent,  followed by biomass at 2.5 per cent, geothermal at 0.9 per cent, and hydropower at 0.5 per cent.

The remaining amount of new power generation came from natural gas, at 44.1 per cent, and there were no new coal or nuclear projects recorded.

Furthermore, over the past 30 months renewable energy sources have accounted for almost half (48 per cent) of new electrical generating capacity.

If 2011 is also factored in, then renewables have accounted for approximately 45% of all new electrical generating capacity over the past three and a half years.

Since January 1, 2011 renewables have provided more new electrical generating capacity than natural gas and nearly four times that from coal.

Renewable energy sources now account for approximately 16 per cent of total installed U.S. operating generating capacity including:  water (8.57 per cent), wind (5.26 per cent), biomass (1.37 per cent), solar (0.75 per cent), and geothermal steam (0.33 per cent).