US installs 6.6 GW of clean power in record Q1

The US has installed 6,619 MW of utility-scale clean power capacity in the first three months of 2022, marking a record first quarter for clean power installations and an increase of 11% compared to the first quarter of 2021, according to a new report by American Clean Power (ACP).

Growth was driven by battery storage installations, which expanded 173% from a year ago to 758 MW/2,537 MWh. Utility-scale solar additions rose 11% to 2,997 MW, while wind installations declined 3% to 2,865 MW.

Over 14.8 GW of capacity has been delayed as of the end of the quarter, including 8.6 GW of solar projects.

“Ongoing uncertainty from the Department of Commerce’s unwarranted solar tariff case, the unsettled fate of clean energy tax credits, supply chain issues and inflation are all making investment and planning decisions a difficult challenge,” ACP chief executive Heather Zichal said and called for resolution and policy clarity if the 2035 net zero grid goal is to be met.

Clean power projects in the pipeline, including schemes under construction and in advanced development, were a record 125,476 MW but pipeline growth has slowed to only 4%, according to the report.

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