This growth was driven by a mix of renewable sources, including biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind. Notably, September marked the 13th consecutive month where solar led as the largest source of new capacity. Between January and September 2024, solar contributed 18,635 MW (megawatts) and wind added 2,626 MW. Together with 213 MW from hydropower and 6 MW from biomass, renewables accounted for 89.6% of the new capacity added during this period.
FERC’s latest Energy Infrastructure Update also revealed that September saw 1,786 MW of solar, 156 MW of wind, and 1 MW of hydropower come online, representing 82.4% of the month’s new generating capacity. The remaining 410 MW came from natural gas.
From January to September 2024, solar made up 77.7% of all new generation capacity, with 75.7% of September’s additions being solar. Adjusted for capacity factor differences, the electricity generated by new solar installations in 2024 is projected to exceed that of new nuclear power by more than 4 times and new natural gas by over 5 times. Currently, solar and wind together account for over 21% of US generating capacity, while all renewables combined make up 30.3%.
Along with this, the American Clean Power Association (ACP) also released its latest Clean Power Quarterly Market Report, highlighting a significant surge in clean energy deployment during Q3 2024. With 10.2 GW (gigawatts) of clean energy capacity brought online, this record-breaking quarter sets the stage for a landmark year in 2024, showcasing the robust growth of American clean power.
“American-made clean power is meeting the moment, providing the resources necessary to continue delivering affordable and reliable power to communities across the country. The record pace of clean power installations is delivering not only for the power grid but for the US economy,” said John Hensley, ACP’s SVP of Markets and Policy Analysis. “The impacts of the industry’s investments are vast, keeping America competitive on the global economic stage and enhancing our energy and national security.”
*https://www.renewableinstitute.org/