2022-01-11 11:40:00
U.S. SOLAR POWER + 46 GW
U.S. EIA - JANUARY 10, 2022 - In 2022, we expect 46.1 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric generating capacity to be added to the U.S. power grid, according to our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. Almost half of the planned 2022 capacity additions are solar, followed by natural gas at 21% and wind at 17%.
Developers and power plant owners report planned additions to us in our annual and monthly electric generator surveys. In the annual survey, we ask respondents to provide planned online dates for generators coming online in the next five years. The monthly survey tracks the status of generators coming online based on reported in-service dates.
Solar. We expect U.S. utility-scale solar generating capacity to grow by 21.5 GW in 2022. This planned new capacity would surpass last year’s 15.5 GW of solar capacity additions, an estimate based on reported additions through October (8.7 GW) and additions scheduled for the last two months of 2021 (6.9 GW). Most planned solar additions in 2022 will be in Texas (6.1 GW, or 28% of the national total), followed by California (4.0 GW).
Natural gas. In 2022, we expect 9.6 GW of new natural gas-fired capacity to come online. Combined-cycle plants account for 8.1 GW of the planned capacity additions (over 84%), and combustion-turbine plants account for 1.4 GW. Almost all (88%) of the planned natural gas capacity is located in Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and Illinois.
Wind. In 2021, a record-high 17.1 GW of wind capacity came online in the United States. We based this estimate on reported additions through October (9.9 GW) and planned additions in November and December (7.2 GW). Another 7.6 GW of wind capacity is scheduled to come online in 2022. About half (51%) of the 2022 wind capacity additions are located in Texas. The 999 MW Traverse Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma, the largest wind project expected to come online in 2022, is scheduled to begin commercial operations in April.
Battery storage. We expect U.S. utility-scale battery storage capacity to grow by 5.1 GW, or 84%, in 2022. Several factors have helped expand U.S. battery storage, including declining costs of battery storage, deploying battery storage with renewable generation, and adding value through regional transmission organization (RTO) markets.
Nuclear. Another 5% of the country’s planned electric capacity additions in 2022 will come from two new reactors at the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. One of these reactors, Unit 3, was expected to come online in 2021, but the unit’s planned start date was delayed until June 2022 to allow additional time for construction and testing.
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Earlier:
2022, January, 10, 11:15:00
U.S. RENEWABLES +2.5 GW MONTHLY
Solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower) are now adding more than 2,250 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity each month.
2021, December, 27, 11:35:00
U.S. CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT $1.2 TLN
The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden last month contains more than $80 billion to advance the clean energy transition and fight climate change.
2021, November, 17, 13:15:00
U.S. CLEAN ENERGY LAW
The USD1.2 trillion package is a key part of the president's Build Back Better agenda and contains a total of more than USD62 billion for the US Department of Energy (DOE) to deliver a "more equitable clean energy future", including preventing the premature retirement of existing nuclear plants and investing in advanced nuclear projects.
2021, November, 10, 12:05:00
U.S. ENERGY CLIMATE INVESTMENT $1.2 TLN
The US House of Representatives has passed a US$1,200bn infrastructure bill.
2021, October, 19, 12:20:00
U.S. ECONOMIC, ENERGY PLAN $3.5 TLN
The most immediate goal of the plan is to push the energy sector to reach at least 80% clean energy output by 2030.
2021, October, 12, 16:30:00
U.S. OFFSHORE WIND $109 BLN
Multiple states, including New Jersey, want to become the hub of the supply chain that will support offshore wind energy in the U.S., planning and building onshore support sites for manufacturing turbine blades and other components of wind power.
2021, October, 8, 09:55:00
U.S. RENEWABLES RECORD 13%
The latest issue of EIA's "Monthly Energy Review" report (with data through June 30, 2021) reveals that renewable sources accounted for 12.91% of the U.S. energy produced (and 12.71% of the energy consumed) for electricity, transportation, heating, and other uses.
