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Released August 20, 2024 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--In its latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that developers added 20.2 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation to the U.S. electrical system in the first half of this year. The growth represents 3.6 GW (21%) more than the capacity added in the first half of 2023. Solar power led the way in new capacity additions, as it does for anticipated additions for the second half of the year.
Completed Projects
Solar power easily eclipsed other fuel types for new U.S. generation in the first half of the year, coming in with 12 GW, or 59% of all new capacity. According to the EIA, Texas and Florida accounted for about 38% of these additions. One of the biggest projects to be completed in Texas was Intersect Power's (Beaverton, Oregon) Lumina solar farm near Snyder, about 85 miles southeast of Lubbock. In late 2022, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Primoris Services Corporation (NYSE:PRIM) (Dallas, Texas) began construction of the facility, which included installation of more than 1.4 million solar panels. The facility now provides more than 650 megawatts (MW) at full capacity. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
The second-highest capacity additions came in the form of battery energy storage systems (BESS), which often accompany solar projects, and which contributed 4.2 GW (21%) of new capacity additions during the first half of the year. One of the largest completed BESS projects accompanied one of the largest solar projects completed this year. Arevia Power's (Glendale, California) Gemini solar and BESS project in Clark County, Nevada was completed earlier this summer and includes 380 MW of battery storage capacity accompanying about 690 MW of solar generation. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
The largest wind project to come online in the first half of the year also was near Synder, Texas. NextEra Energy Incorporated's (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) Canyon Windfarm came online toward the start of this year, using 111 wind turbines each rated between 2.52 MW and 2.82 MW to provide aggregate generation of 309 MW. Subscribers can click here to learn more about the project.
Projects for Remainder of Year
The EIA's anticipated capacity additions for the second half of the year also shows solar, battery storage and wind capacity as the top three forms of U.S. capacity additions, in that order. Developers report that they plan to add 42.6 GW of new capacity to the U.S. in the second half of this year, although it is almost certain that not all of this will be built according to plan.
One of the highest-capacity solar plants to come online later this year comes from the U.S. renewables arm of Electricite de France SA (Paris, France), which began construction of its Fox Squirrel photovoltaic facility in the summer of 2022 in London, Ohio, with Blattner Energy Incorporated (Avon, Minnesota) heading up the work. When completed later this year, the facility will provide more than 570 MW of power to the central Ohio grid. Subscribers can click here for more details on the project.
One of the largest battery capacity additions set to come online later this year will accompany a large solar farm. The Eleven Mile solar and BESS facility near Casa Grande, Arizona, is owned by Danish renewable energy developer Orsted A/S (Fredericia). Accompanying 300 MW of solar generation will be 300 MW of battery capacity capable of lasting for up to four hours in times of high demand or when the sun isn't shining. EPC contractor Blattner Energy Incorporated (Avon, Minnesota) is expected to finish work on the plant this fall. Subscribers can click here to learn more.
NextEra's Roadrunner Crossing Windfarm in Eastland County, Texas, southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, is expected to be one of the largest wind projects to be added in the U.S. in this year's second half. Contractor M.A. Mortenson Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota) is underway with the installation of 91 GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV) (Cambridge, Massachusetts) turbines, each rated between 2.52 MW and 2.82, to provide total generation of more than 253 MW. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project report.
Retiring Capacity
Some of this new capacity has and will replace retiring capacity, which comes mostly in the form of older natural gas-fired plants, according to the EIA. The agency reports that 5.1 GW of U.S. generation retired in the first half of the year, with 53% of this coming from natural gas and 41% from coal. While the largest retired coal units were less than 650 MW each, the largest natural gas-fired plant to be retired was the six-unit, 1,400-MW Mystic Generation Station combined-cycle facility in Massachusetts, which had been the third-largest power plant in New England, according to the EIA. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Power Plant Database can click here for the profile of units 8 and 9, the last of plant's units to retire.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Database can click here to view reports for all of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Completed Projects
Solar power easily eclipsed other fuel types for new U.S. generation in the first half of the year, coming in with 12 GW, or 59% of all new capacity. According to the EIA, Texas and Florida accounted for about 38% of these additions. One of the biggest projects to be completed in Texas was Intersect Power's (Beaverton, Oregon) Lumina solar farm near Snyder, about 85 miles southeast of Lubbock. In late 2022, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Primoris Services Corporation (NYSE:PRIM) (Dallas, Texas) began construction of the facility, which included installation of more than 1.4 million solar panels. The facility now provides more than 650 megawatts (MW) at full capacity. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
The second-highest capacity additions came in the form of battery energy storage systems (BESS), which often accompany solar projects, and which contributed 4.2 GW (21%) of new capacity additions during the first half of the year. One of the largest completed BESS projects accompanied one of the largest solar projects completed this year. Arevia Power's (Glendale, California) Gemini solar and BESS project in Clark County, Nevada was completed earlier this summer and includes 380 MW of battery storage capacity accompanying about 690 MW of solar generation. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
The largest wind project to come online in the first half of the year also was near Synder, Texas. NextEra Energy Incorporated's (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) Canyon Windfarm came online toward the start of this year, using 111 wind turbines each rated between 2.52 MW and 2.82 MW to provide aggregate generation of 309 MW. Subscribers can click here to learn more about the project.
Projects for Remainder of Year
The EIA's anticipated capacity additions for the second half of the year also shows solar, battery storage and wind capacity as the top three forms of U.S. capacity additions, in that order. Developers report that they plan to add 42.6 GW of new capacity to the U.S. in the second half of this year, although it is almost certain that not all of this will be built according to plan.
One of the highest-capacity solar plants to come online later this year comes from the U.S. renewables arm of Electricite de France SA (Paris, France), which began construction of its Fox Squirrel photovoltaic facility in the summer of 2022 in London, Ohio, with Blattner Energy Incorporated (Avon, Minnesota) heading up the work. When completed later this year, the facility will provide more than 570 MW of power to the central Ohio grid. Subscribers can click here for more details on the project.
One of the largest battery capacity additions set to come online later this year will accompany a large solar farm. The Eleven Mile solar and BESS facility near Casa Grande, Arizona, is owned by Danish renewable energy developer Orsted A/S (Fredericia). Accompanying 300 MW of solar generation will be 300 MW of battery capacity capable of lasting for up to four hours in times of high demand or when the sun isn't shining. EPC contractor Blattner Energy Incorporated (Avon, Minnesota) is expected to finish work on the plant this fall. Subscribers can click here to learn more.
NextEra's Roadrunner Crossing Windfarm in Eastland County, Texas, southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, is expected to be one of the largest wind projects to be added in the U.S. in this year's second half. Contractor M.A. Mortenson Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota) is underway with the installation of 91 GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV) (Cambridge, Massachusetts) turbines, each rated between 2.52 MW and 2.82, to provide total generation of more than 253 MW. Subscribers can learn more by viewing the project report.
Retiring Capacity
Some of this new capacity has and will replace retiring capacity, which comes mostly in the form of older natural gas-fired plants, according to the EIA. The agency reports that 5.1 GW of U.S. generation retired in the first half of the year, with 53% of this coming from natural gas and 41% from coal. While the largest retired coal units were less than 650 MW each, the largest natural gas-fired plant to be retired was the six-unit, 1,400-MW Mystic Generation Station combined-cycle facility in Massachusetts, which had been the third-largest power plant in New England, according to the EIA. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Power Plant Database can click here for the profile of units 8 and 9, the last of plant's units to retire.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Database can click here to view reports for all of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
