US Wind And Solar Power Generation Exceeds Nuclear Power For The First Time

This is the first time ever that the United States has seen its wind and solar power generate more electricity than nuclear. The country reportedly generated 17.96% more electricity from wind and solar than nuclear plants in April. In addition, according to a SUN DAY campaign analysis of newly released US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, clean energy generation - including biomass, geothermal and hydropower and driven by strong growth in solar and wind power - accounted for nearly 30 per cent of total US electricity generation in April.

And from January to April 2022, clean energy will account for more than 25% of US electricity.

The latest EIA Monthly Electricity Report, for the period ending April 30, 2022, also reflects a 28.9% year-over-year change in solar (including rooftop) and a 24.2% year-over-year increase in wind. Solar and wind combined grew by 25.4%, accounting for more than 1/6 (16.6%) of US electricity generation (12.2% for wind and 4.4% for solar). Actual figures are in terms of net generation (gigawatt hours).

In the first four months of 2022, hydropower increased by 9.99%, but wind alone provided 70.89% more electricity than hydropower.

And when it comes to fossil fuels, renewables provide 26.13% and 37.8% more than coal and nuclear, respectively, in the first three months of 2022. In fact, compared to the same period in 2021, electricity generation from coal is down by 3.9%, while nuclear is down by 1.8%.

Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY campaign, said: "Solar and wind are growing despite the Covid pandemic, grid access issues and global supply chain disruptions. In addition, they are outpacing nuclear power by a wider margin."