US Renewables Nearly Tied With Nuclear At 20%, Coal Falls To 27%

June 28th, 2018 by Joshua S Hill

Renewable energy sources accounted for a fifth of US power generation over the first third of 2018 according to new figures from the US Energy Information Administration, as coal dropped to 27% of total electricity generation.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) published its ‘Electric Power Monthly‘ report this week, revealing the latest energy statistics across the country for and through to the month of April and the figures continue to show the continued growth of the renewable energy industry and the decline of the country’s coal industry.

For the month of April, coal generated a total of 73,489 megawatt-hours (MWh), or 24.3% of the country’s total net generation. Natural gas continued to dominate with 100,004 MWh, or 33%, while nuclear and renewables continued to battle it out — nuclear with 19.5% and renewables with 22% (all renewable energy sources including hydroelectric).

Drawing the timeframe out to account for the first four months of the year, things looked relatively the same. Coal generated 354,926 MWh for the first third of the year, or 27%, while natural gas accounted for 31% with 409,806 MWh. Nuclear generated 265,559 MWh, or 20.3%, while renewable energy generated a total of 254,170 MWh, or 19.5%.

Looking at the renewable energy industry specifically, solar increased to provide 27,075 MWh for the first third of the year, or 2.07%, making it the third-placed renewable energy source in the United States. Wind energy accounted for 104,801 MWh, or 8.05%, marginally surpassing that generated by hydropower, which generated 104,518 MWh, or 8.02%.

Data derived from the EIA’S ‘Electric Power Month’ Table ES1.B. Additional insight from the Sun Day Campaign.









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