Renewable energy sources are making significant strides in the United States, according to the latest data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). In March 2024, renewables accounted for nearly 30% of the country’s total electrical generation, solidifying their position as the second-largest source behind natural gas.
Natural gas maintained a dominant share of 40.5% during the first quarter of 2024, although its contribution dipped slightly to 39.4% in March. Meanwhile, renewables continued their upward trajectory, with solar power leading the charge.
The EIA’s “Electric Power Monthly” report, which covers data up to March 31, 2024, revealed that utility-scale and small-scale solar combined experienced a remarkable 25.7% year-over-year increase in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2023. This growth was driven by a 20.4% surge in small-scale solar installations, such as rooftop panels, and a 28.4% expansion in utility-scale solar thermal and photovoltaic projects – the fastest growth rate among all energy sources.
As a result, solar power accounted for 5.3% of the total US electrical generation during the first quarter of 2024, with its share rising to an impressive 6.9% in March alone, tying with hydropower’s contribution. Analysts predict that solar will surpass hydropower in the coming months, cementing its position as the second-largest renewable energy source behind wind power.
Small-scale solar installations played a significant role, contributing 31.5% of the total solar generation in the first quarter and providing 1.7% of the overall US electricity supply.
Other renewable sources, such as hydropower and wind, also showed signs of recovery after experiencing declines in 2023. Hydropower’s output increased by 4.3% year-over-year in the first quarter, with a notable 13.6% rise in March compared to the same month in 2023. While wind power was still down 2.8% year-over-year in the first quarter, it rebounded with a 2.9% year-over-year increase in March.
Collectively, all renewable sources – solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal – grew by 3.7% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2024, accounting for 24.7% of the total electrical generation. This share climbed to an impressive 29.2% in March alone, up from 26.3% in the same month the previous year.
Notably, the combined electrical generation from solar and wind (17.1%) surpassed that of coal (15.2%) during the first quarter of 2024, and nearly doubled coal’s share in March (20.8% vs. 11.6%). Additionally, renewables outproduced US nuclear power plants by 30.3% during the first quarter, and in March, the combined share of electricity from solar and wind (20.8%) exceeded that of nuclear power (19.2%).
Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, an organisation that advocates for sustainable energy solutions, remarked on the significance of these developments, stating, “More records were broken in March as wind plus solar produced more electricity than either nuclear power or coal, and solar was on the verge of overtaking hydropower. The mix of renewables provided almost 30% of US electrical generation in March and seems likely to surpass that level in the coming months.”