Solar Power Will Make Up Virtually Half Of New U.S. Electric Generating Capacity In 2022

• In 2022, we anticipate 46.1 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electrical generating capacity to be included in the U.S. power grid, according to our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. Almost fifty percent of the intended 2022 capacity enhancements are solar, complied with by natural gas at 21% and also wind at 17%.

Designers and nuclear power plant owners report prepared enhancements to us in our annual and regular monthly electric generator studies. In the yearly study, we ask participants to offer organized online days for generators coming online in the following five years. The regular monthly survey tracks the standing of generators coming on the internet based on reported in-service dates.

Solar. We anticipate united state utility-scale solar creating capacity to grow by 21.5 GW in 2022. This intended brand-new capacity would certainly go beyond last year's 15.5 GW of solar capacity enhancements, a price quote based on reported enhancements through October (8.7 GW) as well as enhancements arranged for the last two months of 2021 (6.9 GW). The majority of planned solar additions in 2022 will be in Texas (6.1 GW, or 28% of the national total amount), complied with by California (4.0 GW).

Natural gas. In 2022, we anticipate 9.6 GW of new all-natural gas-fired capacity to find online. Combined-cycle plants account for 8.1 GW of the planned capacity additions (over 84%), and combustion-turbine plants represent 1.4 GW. Mostly all (88%) of the prepared natural gas capacity lies in Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and Illinois.

Wind. In 2021, a record-high 17.1 GW of wind capacity came online in the USA. We based this price quote on reported additions with October (9.9 GW) as well as prepared enhancements in November as well as December (7.2 GW). One more 7.6 GW of wind capacity is scheduled ahead online in 2022. Concerning half (51%) of the 2022 wind capacity additions are located in Texas. The 999 MW Traverse Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma, the biggest wind project anticipated to come online in 2022, is set up to start commercial procedures in April.

Battery storage space. We expect U.S. utility-scale battery storage space capacity to expand by 5.1 GW, or 84%, in 2022. Several variables have actually assisted broaden united state battery storage space, consisting of decreasing costs of battery storage space, deploying battery storage space with sustainable generation, and including value through regional transmission organization (RTO) markets.

Nuclear. An additional 5% of the nation's intended electric capacity enhancements in 2022 will certainly come from 2 new activators at the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. Among these reactors, Unit 3, was expected ahead online in 2021, but the unit's planned begin date was delayed until June 2022 to enable additional time for building and construction and testing.