Renewable energy sources accounted for nearly one-quarter of the nation’s electrical generation in the first 10 months of 2022, this according to a review of EIA data by the SUN DAY Campaign.
The final issue of EIA’s “Electric Power Monthly” report series published in 2022 (with data through October 31) reveals that during the first 10 months of 2022, renewable energy sources (including residential solar systems) increased their electrical output by 14.26% compared to the same period a year earlier. By comparison, electrical generation by all energy sources combined grew by just 3.14%.
Year-to-date, renewables have provided 22.60% of total U.S. electrical generation compared to 20.40% a year earlier. Accordingly, they are on track to reach or surpass EIA’s forecast of renewables providing 22% of U.S. electricity in calendar year 2022.
Output by solar alone increased by 26.23% and its share of total U.S. electrical generation year-to-date (YTD) surpassed 5.0%, providing 5.05% through the end of October. For perspective, solar’s YTD share first reached 1.0% in March 2016. Since then, solar’s monthly generation has increased almost six-fold. The trend seems likely to continue — in October 2022 alone, solar’s output was 31.68% greater than a year earlier, a rate of growth that strongly eclipsed that of every other energy source.
Further, for the 10-month period, electrical generation by wind expanded by 16.86% and provided almost a tenth (9.80%) of total electrical generation. In addition, generation by hydropower grew 6.13% and accounted for 6.14% of the total. Electrical output by geothermal as well as wood and wood-derived fuels also increased by 6.45% and 0.16% respectively. Only generation by “other biomass” fell — by 4.85%.
Taken together, during the first 10 months of 2022, renewable energy sources comfortably out-produced both coal and nuclear power by 16.62% and 27.39% respectively. However, natural gas continues to dominate with a 39.40% share of total generation.
“As we begin 2023, it seems very likely that renewables will provide nearly a quarter — if not more — of the nation’s electricity during the coming year,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong. “And it is entirely possible that the combination of just wind and solar will outpace nuclear power and maybe even that of coal during the next twelve months.”
News item from SUN DAY
In addition to Solar Panels, I also have a Heat Pump which supplies my heating and cooling needs and runs off the electricity produced by my Solar. I also have an efficiency electric Water Heater and electric car which also are charged by my Solar Electricity. I am thrilled to learn that this becoming more common.
Solar is definitely the best way to modernize and save on electrical energy/usage capabilities, and in many ways, but personally I must state this one missing piece. The “Electrical heating window curtains” that catches the winter drafts and turns its cold air into warm air, and catches it at it’s initial stages, as it’s reaches coming into your homes. Changing it’s cold temperatures from drafts before it can sneak up on you!
“Renewable energy sources accounted for nearly one-quarter of the nation’s electrical generation in the first 10 months of 2022, this according to a review of EIA data by the SUN DAY Campaign.”
These are all W.R.T. (with respect to) propositions. Back in 2000 the ‘popular’ pundit was solar PV is “only” 0.1% of all generation on the grid. This could be much higher than 25% today if geopolitical and protectionism using tariffs hadn’t interfered in the construction of solar PV farms, wind farms, individual residential solar PV systems over the last 6 years. Over the years the attitude has changed.
By 2005 my first grid tied solar PV system with a utility PPA using Net Metering was designed to zero out my (yearly) electric bills. It worked quite well for years and when I had to replace my A/C units due to leaks, the new Energy Star A/C units combined with the Net Metering PPA allowed me to carry a energy credit that erased all electric bills for the year until we sold the house in 2017. So, W.R.T., with the proper components and PPA one can have 100% of one’s daily energy needs taken care of and a zero electric bill from the utility all year long. The EIA is utility biased and seems to be not all that interested at the overall efficiency of a solar PV system on the roof of a home or small business and what that (means) W.R.T. grid demands and needs. The next ‘narrative’ to have is how does distributed smart ESS affect the generation, storage and use of energy country wide?