US renewables to outpace coal in 2022 power generation mix

Renewables power plants in the US are expected to account for 22% of the country’s total power generation 2022 and outpace coal thanks to the accelerated deployment of new wind and solar power capacity, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) says in a new report.

Following a peak during the past decade, the share of coal is projected to gradually decline, coming at around 20% in 2022 and falling by a further percentage point next year. According to EIA’s calculations, around 38% of the country’s power this year will be supplied by natural gas but its share is expected to decrease to 36% in 2023 whereas renewables output is anticipated to grow further and be responsible for 24% of the power supply.

Data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) earlier in November shows that the utility-scale solar and wind segments each added more new generating capacity than did natural gas during the first nine months of 2022. A total of 6,751 MW of solar and 6,328 MW of wind farms were commissioned in January-September, against 6,086 MW of natural gas, with the major driver being the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act passed in August.

EIA noted that the overall energy consumption is expected to fall in 2023 amid projections for a slight drop in the US gross domestic product (GDP).

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