EIA: Renewables Outpace Coal-Fired Generation for First Time in April

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources surpassed coal-fired generation for the first time ever in April due to a combination of factors, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Wednesday. However, the situation is unlikely to become the norm any time soon, the agency added.

Renewable energy provided 23% of total U.S. electricity generation in April, compared with coal's 20%, according to the EIA's Today In Energy report, which cited data in the EIA's Electric Power Monthly. April's power mix was the result of seasonal factors, ongoing growth in renewable power generation and the continued drop in coal-fired generation, the agency said.

Industrial Info is tracking more than $50 billion worth of renewable energy capital projects that have either kicked off or will kick off construction this year.

Click on the image at right to view a graph showing U.S. renewable energy capital project kickoff activity in 2019 by market region.

Overall electricity consumption in the U.S. is often lowest in the spring and fall due to moderate temperatures and less electricity demand for heating and air conditioning. As a result, the EIA said, generation from coal, natural gas and nuclear is often at its lowest during these times, as some generators undergo maintenance outages.

At the same time, wind- and solar-power generation capacity has continued to surge, with 15 gigawatts coming online in 2018. Wind generation reached a monthly record high of 30.2 megawatt hours (MWh) in April, the EIA noted. Solar power generation is likely to hit a new high this summer, breaking the record 7.8 million MWh that was reached in June 2018.

Hydroelectric generation, which usually peaks in the spring due to melting snowpacks, totaled 25 million MWh in April, the EIA said.

Click on the image at right for an EIA graph showing U.S. monthly electricity generation through April.

U.S. coal-fired generation, meanwhile, continues to drop. The EIA said it expects 4.1 GW of coal capacity to retire this year, making up more than half of all anticipated power plant retirements in 2019. The situation that led to renewables overtaking coal in April is not expected to recur soon. Coal is expected to generate more electricity than renewables for the remainder of 2019 and in 2020, according to the EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook.

Industrial Info is tracking more than $1.5 billion in coal-fired power projects that have either kicked off or will kick off this year. Click here for the list of projects.

One of the larger U.S. renewable projects with a construction kickoff this year is Global Infrastructure Partners' (New York, New York) $750 million Mesquite Star Windfarm near Rotan, Texas. The 419-megawatt (MW) facility will feature 118 Siemens Gamesa wind turbine generators. Blattner Energy Incorporated (Avon, Minnesota) is providing engineering, procurement and construction for the project, which is expected to wrap up in 2020. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Another renewables project kickoff involves AES Corporation's (NYSE:AES) (Arlington, Virginia) 240-MW solar farm development near Thornburg, Virginia. The $480 million project is the second phase of the 500-MW Spotsylvania Solar Energy Center project. Completion of the second phase is planned for early 2021. 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 -