According to a new, in the first, for the US, wind and solar generated more electricity than coal last year Report Energy think tank from Amber. Coal reached a historic lower level, producing 15 % of the country’s electricity, compared to 17 % of the solar and air.
The federal government is now taking a sharp turning point under the Trump administration. But the benefits of last year show that market forces may run faster despite President Donald Trump. Hate for Wind Mills And Solar panels.
According to data from the US Energy Information Administration, in 2024, solar power was the fastest growing source. It compared 81 % of the additional annual capacity. Utility Scale Solar Records increased by 31 GHwat. For the context, the power is a gigwat comparison 1.9 million Photovoltaic panel.
Solar energy reached historically low cost in 2020, The cheapest source Electricity in most parts of the world. While solar supply chain is still Concentrated in ChinaAccording to one, manufacturing capacity for solar modules increased by 190 % in the United States last year Separate reports This week was released by the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Wood Maconzie. According to Both reports, Texas saw the most growth in solar, and it also has the highest capacity of module manufacturing – not bad for a state that has historically been a center of the oil and gas industry.
The wind generation increased from the slightest, but it is still double the solar power source, which is about 10 % of the US electricity mix. Like solar, beach air is usually one Cheap source More than coal or gas.
All of these trends can help tackle the climate crisis and help renewable energy companies through the Trump administration’s attack on any task. Federal agencies have tried to keep funds back for renewable energy projects. Trump, who Accept With the help of tens of millions of dollars from oil and gas companies, never loses the opportunity Talk in the trash Solar and wind projects. He often gives rise to misconceptions that lies the wheel deaths with wind plans and signs an executive order Stop federal approval And lease for air farms on federal lands and waters. And its Tariff threats New energy projects on Canada and China’s goods can increase costs.
Nevertheless, electricity demand is rising in the United States after 14 years with the benefits of energy saving. According to Amber, the demand for electricity last year increased by 3 %, the fifth highest in this century. The rise of energy hungry AI data centers, crypto mines, and electric vehicles and equipment has increased interest in developing more energy sources throughout the board, from renewable sources to nuclear reactors. Gas plants.
As a result of the increasing demand, the electricity generated from gas -powered power plants increased by 3.3 % last year. The coal generation was on the rise in 2007, which was encountered in frequency gas. And when gas produces hot carbon dioxide emissions from the planet less than coal, it is still a powerful source of pollution that leads to climate change.
A third Report On the demand for national power this week – a diverse range of commercial groups, including the American Clean Power Association, the American Petroleum Institute, and the Nuclear Energy Institute, says the country’s power grid needs to be developed significantly. It states that the United States will need to install 900 GW of renewable energy and batteries by 2040. The report also advocates for 100 GW of the new gas capacity, though it Does not live With what researchers have found, the climate crisis is essential to preventing the crisis from getting worse than ever.
“Solar is winning,” Amber’s chief analyst, Dave Jones, said in a press release. “It added more than gas in 2024 and batteries will ensure that solar gas can increase cheaper and faster.”
Plany of development is enough space, of course, consider the surroundings 60 % The country’s electricity mixture comes from foam fuel. According to Amber, but renewable sources have made a long journey since 2018, when coal still generated three times more electricity than solar and air.
