EIA: Renewables to Be Fastest-Growing Source of U.S. Electricity Generation

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--While fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas, will retain a higher share of U.S. power generation in the coming years, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that non-hydro renewable power sources, such as wind and solar, will be the fastest growing forms of energy in the U.S. over the next two years. According the EIA's January Short-Term Energy Outlook, utility-scale solar generation will grow by 10% in 2019 and 17% in 2020, while U.S. wind generation will grow by 12% and 14% over the next two years. Industrial Info is tracking $73.9 billion in U.S. wind projects that are expected to come online in the next two years and $45 billion in solar projects.

Wind
The EIA estimates that about 11 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity will come online in the U.S. in 2019, representing the largest increase since 2012. This will be followed by an estimated 8 GW in 2020. Wind will surpass hydropower this year in terms of U.S. market share. Among the wind projects Industrial Info is tracking that will come online in 2019 and 2020 is Xcel Energy Incorporated's (NASDAQ:XEL) (Minneapolis, Minnesota) 522-megawatt (MW) Sagamore Wind Project near Portales, New Mexico. Construction is expected to kick off this summer and take about a year to complete. The facility will use 261 2-MW wind turbine generators. Wanzek Construction Incorporated (Houston, Texas) is providing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) on the project, which has an estimated total investment value (TIV) of $865 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

In Emmons and Logan counties in North Dakota, NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) is gearing up to begin construction on its 300-MW grassroot windfarm. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year and take about a year to complete. The project has an estimated TIV of $650 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

In Texas, home to the largest amount of wind generation in the U.S., Wind Tex Energy Incorporated (Dallas, Texas) plans to begin construction on the Edmondson Ranch Windfarm near Garden City this year. The 292.5-MW facility will use 117 General Electric (NYSE:GE) wind turbine generators. Construction is expected to take about a year to complete. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Among the U.S. wind projects that are under construction and expected to come online this year is NextEra's Torrecillas Wind Energy Center near Freer, Texas, in the south of the state. Construction began last summer and is expected to wrap up this summer. The facility will use 120 General Electric 2.5-MW wind turbine generators to generate 300 MW. Blattner Energy Incorporated (Avon, Minnesota) is providing EPC on the project, which has an estimated TIV of $495 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Solar
In 2017, solar surpassed biomass to become the third-largest renewable energy source in the U.S., behind hydropower and wind. Solar projects keep escalating. The EIA expects the U.S. to add 4 GW of solar power in 2019 and almost 6 GW in 2020. Solar power is forecast to contribute about 2% of U.S. utility-scale generation in 2020.

Among the solar projects being tracked that are expected to come online during this time is EDF Renewable Energy's (Oakland, California) 250-MW Palen solar park near Desert Center, California. Construction began in the fourth quarter last year and is expected to be completed in 2020. Aspen Environmental Group (San Francisco, California) is the consultant on the project, which has an estimated TIV of $500 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Also under construction is Nevada Copper Corporation's (Vancouver, British Columbia) Pumpkin Hollow solar farm near Yerington, Nevada. Construction began last year and is expected to be completed late this year. The facility will generate 500 MW. Sedgman Canada Limited (Vancouver) is providing EPC on the project, which has an estimated TIV of $875 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

In West Texas, BNB Renewable Energy Holdings LLC (Austin, Texas) is gearing up to begin construction on its BNB Long Draw solar farm this year. Construction on the 200-MW facility is scheduled to begin in the second quarter and be completed by the end of 2020. Cummings Westlake LLC (Cypress, Texas) is the consultant on the project. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Also on the books to start construction this year is SunEnergy 1 LLC's (Mooresville, North Carolina) 150-MW Fort Powhatan solar farm near Disputania, Virginia. Construction on the $300 million project is set to begin in the second quarter and be completed by the end of the year. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.