EIA expects big leap in solar capacity by the end of 2016
Renewables used for electricity projected to increase 9.5 percent
Renewable energy plants are projected to increase their role in electricity generation in the U.S. in 2016, the U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA) reported.
According to the EIA, renewables used in the electric power sector should increase 9.5 percent in 2016. Projections include both utility-scale solar power generation and utility-scale wind power generation.
#Electricity generated from utility-scale renewable plants is expected to grow by 9% in 2016 https://t.co/i9bIG6Ak5Z pic.twitter.com/hxHGggm0CA
— EIA (@EIAgov) February 3, 2016
Solar power
The EIA is expecting that solar power capacity (utility-scale) will increase 126 percent in the two-year period from the end of 2014 to the end of 2016. Furthermore, in 2017, even higher growth is expected — a 45 percent increase in projected from 2016 to 2017.
According to the EIA, California, North Carolina, and Nevada continue to lead the way in electricity generation from solar power.
Wind Power
Wind capacity is also expected to continue its upward projection. Wind power generation increased 13 percent in 2015, and is projected to increase by another 14 percent in 2016. The EIA expects a slowdown after that, with a projected 3 percent increase from 2016 to 2017.
Despite recent advances in electricity generation from wind power sources, the U.S. still lags behind other nations in this area.
Orginally published on → Utilities Local
