In-brief evaluation
October 2, 2024
Data supply: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Hourly Electric Grid Monitor
As the solar blazed down in August 2024, the realm of utility-scale photo voltaic electrical energy surged remarkably, boasting an eye-popping common era of 63.1 gigawatt-hours throughout these sun-kissed hours between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. inside the Lower 48 states. This spectacular determine marks a staggering 36% enhance over the similar interval only one 12 months prior, in August 2023. Such a leap in photo voltaic era heralds a transformative section inside the U.S. electrical energy sector, the place the addition of photo voltaic capability has outstripped all competing assets in 2023, a momentum we totally anticipate will persist into the twilight of 2024.
By the shut of August 2024, a formidable whole of 107.4 gigawatts (GW) of photo voltaic electrical energy capability was operational throughout the Lower 48, eclipsing the 81.9 GW tallied in August of the prior 12 months, as per insights from our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. It’s a testomony to the relentless march of renewable energy.
Looking ahead to the months of August by December, the forecast is nothing wanting promising: U.S. utility-scale builders are poised to inject an extra 24 GW of photo voltaic capability into the grid. Astonishingly, by the finish of 2024, we venture that almost two-thirds—roughly 63%—of all new electrical energy producing capabilities that can be unveiled in the U.S. will stem from photo voltaic improvements.
Intriguingly, three states emerged as giants in this photo voltaic tableau, collectively claiming practically half of the nation’s utility-scale photo voltaic fleet in August 2024: the sun-drenched California led with a staggering 21.0 GW, Texas adopted carefully with 18.8 GW, and sunny Florida contributed a sturdy 9.7 GW to this inexperienced revolution.
Principal contributors: Kimberly Peterson, Chris Peterson