PV set to be largest source of new US generating capacity in 2022

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From pv magazine USA

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects 46.1 GW of new utility-scale electric generating capacity to be added to the US power grid in 2022. Around 46% of that capacity will be solar, followed by natural gas and wind.

The information has been assembled by the EIA in a series of monthly and annual electric generator surveys, which ask developers to share their planned activation dates for projects in a five-year horizon.

Utility-scale solar Is projected to grow by 21.5 GW this year. The planned capacity marks significant growth from 15.5 GW of capacity additions in 2021. Scheduled additions for the last two months of 2021 hit 6.9 GW.

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Texas is expected to lead all US states in utility-scale PV development this year, with 6.1 GW on the way, representing 28% of the national total. California is expected to add roughly 4 GW of generating capacity this year.

California’s development could speed up, as the California Public Utilities Commission has issued a mandate to connect an additional 11.5 GW of renewable energy to the grid by 2025. Community choice aggregators in the state are actively requesting proposals for projects containing solar and long-duration energy storage of eight hours or more.

The EIA expects a sharp, 84% increase in battery energy storage this year, with 5.1 GW of capacity expected to come online. Declining costs, co-deployment with renewable generation, and added value through regional transmission organization markets are driving growth in the technology, said the EIA.

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