Wind Accounted for Largest Share of New Generation Capacity During First Half of 2022: EIA

The U.S. power grid, in the first six months of 2022, added 15 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale generating capacity, according to an Aug. 3 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Wind generation had the largest share with 34 percent, gas had the second largest share, and solar and battery storage made up the rest. Developers plan to add 29 GW of electric capacity in the next six months the year.

The statistics are based on the agency’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, a compilation of details of all utility-scale electric generating plants with at least 1-megawatt (MW) capacity, either presently operating, intending to commence operations, or retired. The report covers utility-level plants that have closed since 2002.

Over 40 percent of the wind capacity added so far are located in Texas. Between January and June 2022, the most substantial renewable projects that commenced operations are the Traverse 999 MW project located in Oklahoma, 492 MW Maverick Creek located in Texas, and the 440 MW solar and battery storage project located in Slate Hybrid, California.

During the second half of this year, 29.4 GW on capacity is planned to come online, including 13.9 GW of solar and 6 GW of wind. Driven by tax breaks and other incentives, more projects are planned to come online. However, respondents to the inventory survey said they plan to add 3.7 GW less solar energy due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges.

U.S. operators plan to retire 15.1 GW of  generating capacity, with 8.8 GW already decommissioned in the first six months. Of these planned retirements, coal power projects would make up 76 percent, natural gas 12 percent, and nuclear power 9 percent. The most significant power plants retiring this year include the William H. Zimmer 1,305 MW project located in Ohio, which was decommissioned in May, the Morgantown 1,205 MW Generating Station sited in Maryland, and the Palisades 769 MW nuclear power facility sited in Michigan, both decommissioned in June.