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Renewable energy is now over 30% of total US utility-scale electrical generating capacity and on track to reach 37% by the end of 2027, according to data in two new end-of-the-year reports just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign.

In addition, renewables – i.e., solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydropower – provided almost 25% of the US’s electrical generation during the first 10 months of 2024.

Further, October was the 14th month in a row in which solar was the largest source of new capacity, putting it on track to become the US’s second-largest source of capacity, behind natural gas, in three years or sooner.

Renewables were over 90% of new generating capacity through October 2024

In its latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” (with data through October 31, 2024), FERC says 41 “units” of solar totaling 1,970 megawatts (MW) were placed into service in October along with three units of wind (174 MW). Combined, they accounted for 99.9% of all new generating capacity added during the month. Natural gas provided the balance – a mere 3 MW.

During the first 10 months of 2024, solar and wind added 21,425 MW and 2,799 MW, respectively. Combined with 213 MW of hydropower and 6 MW of biomass, renewables were almost 90.5% of capacity added. The balance consisted of the 1,100 Vogtle-4 nuclear reactor in Georgia plus 1,456 MW of gas, 11 MW of oil, and 8 MW of “other.”

Solar was 92% of new capacity in October and 79% during the first 10 months of 2024

Solar accounted for 79.3% of all new utility-scale generation placed into service in the first 10 months of 2024. In October alone, solar comprised 91.8% of all new capacity added.

New wind capacity YTD accounted for most of the balance – 10.4% through October.

Solar capacity additions through the end of October were 80.5% higher than during the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, new natural gas capacity was less than one-sixth (15.3%) of that added last year.

Solar has now been the largest source of new generating capacity for 14 months straight, from September 2023 to October 2024. For a majority of those months, wind took second place.

Solar + wind are now over 21% of US generating capacity

The combined capacities of just solar and wind now constitute 21.2% of the US’s total available installed utility-scale generating capacity.

However, roughly one-third of US solar capacity is in the form of small-scale (e.g., rooftop) systems that is not reflected in FERC’s data. Including that additional solar capacity would bring the share provided by solar + wind closer to a quarter of the country’s total.

Solar’s share of US generating capacity advances it to fourth place

The latest capacity additions have brought solar’s share of total available installed utility-scale generating capacity up to 9.5%, further expanding its lead over hydropower (7.7%). Wind is currently at 11.8%. With the inclusion of biomass (1.1%) and geothermal (0.3%), renewables now stand at 30.37% of total US utility-scale generating capacity.

Installed utility-scale solar has now moved into fourth place – behind natural gas (43.3%), coal (15.5%) and wind – for its share of generating capacity after previously surpassing that of nuclear power (7.9%).

Solar will soon become the second-largest source of US generating capacity

FERC reports that net “high probability” additions of solar between October 2024 and September 2027 have risen to 93,803 MW – an amount more than four times the forecast net “high probability” additions for wind (23,261 MW), the second fastest-growing resource.

FERC also foresees growth for hydropower (1,316 MW), biomass (164 MW), and geothermal (90 MW). On the other hand, there is no new nuclear capacity in FERC’s three-year forecast, while coal, oil, and natural gas are projected to shrink by 19,863 MW, 2,244 MW, and 90 MW, respectively.

If FERC’s current “high probability” additions materialize, by October 1, 2027, solar will account for almost one-sixth (15.5%) of the nation’s installed utility-scale generating capacity. That would be greater than either coal (13.0%) or wind (12.6%) and substantially more than either nuclear power (7.4%) or hydropower (7.3%). The installed capacity of utility-scale solar would thus rise to second place – behind only natural gas (40.3%).

Meanwhile, the mix of all renewables would account for 36.7% of total available installed utility-scale generating capacity – rapidly approaching that of natural gas – with solar and wind constituting more than three-quarters (76.5%) of the installed utility-scale renewable energy capacity.

The combined capacities of all renewables, including small-scale solar, seem likely to exceed natural gas within three years

As noted, FERC’s data do not account for the capacity of small-scale solar systems. If that is factored in, within three years, total US solar capacity (i.e., small-scale plus utility-scale) is likely to approach – and very possibly surpass – 300 GW. In turn, the mix of all renewables would then exceed 40% of total installed capacity while the share of natural gas would drop to about 37%.

Moreover, FERC reports that there may actually be as much as 213,902 MW of net new solar additions in the current three-year pipeline in addition to 66,094 MW of new wind, 7,123 MW of new hydropower, 235 MW of new biomass, and 199 MW of new geothermal. In addition, new solar capacity has regularly exceeded FERC’s forecasts. Thus, renewables’ share could be even greater by early autumn 2027.

Solar is still the fastest-growing source of US electrical generation

In its latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through October 31, 2024), EIA says the combination of utility-scale and “estimated” small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar increased by 26.3% in the first 10 months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Utility-scale solar thermal and photovoltaic expanded by 30.8% during the 10-month period (and by 37.8% in October alone), while small-scale solar PV increased by 15.8%, thereby making solar once again the fastest growing source of US electrical generation.

For perspective, between January and October inclusive, natural gas grew by 4.1% and nuclear power by just 0.7% while coal contracted by 4.0%.

Small-scale solar (i.e., systems <1 MW) accounted for 27.9% of all solar generation and provided 2% of US electricity supply in the first 10 months of this year.

Together, utility-scale and small-scale solar were 7.2% of total US electrical generation for the 10-month period and 7.7% in October alone.

Renewables provided 24% of US electrical generation in first 10 months of 2024

Wind and solar provided 17.2% of US electrical generation during the first 10 months of 2024.

Between January and October inclusive, electrical generation by the mix of all renewables (solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal) grew by 9.0% year-over-year and provided 24.2% of total production. That share rose to 25.5% in October alone. By comparison, renewables accounted for 22.9% of electrical output in the first 10 months of 2023 and 23.1% in October last year.

The SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong said:

Calendar year 2024 has proven to be a period of remarkable growth by renewables, especially solar.

The question now is whether they will continue that growth in 2025 or will the incoming Trump Administration adversely affect it. 

Read more: Renewables powered 24% of US electricity in first 3 quarters of 2024


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Expect Eaton to keep profiting from AI’s spiraling demand for computing power

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A big backlog of projects should keep the company busy for the foreseeable future.

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CATL launches the ‘world’s first ultra-safe’ EV skateboard chassis

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CATL launches the 'world's first ultra-safe' EV skateboard chassis

China’s CATL launched its new Bedrock Chassis on Monday, calling it “the world’s first ultra-safe skateboard chassis.” The global EV battery leader said its newest tech “activates a trillion yuan market” as the new standard for intelligent vehicle design. According to CATL, it will also end the belief that gas-powered cars are safer than EVs.

CATL launches the world’s first ultra-safe EV chassis

On December 24, CATL officially launched the new Bedrock Chassis with “outstanding” safety performance. The company proved it in a video presented during the launch event.

The video showed a prototype model’s front impact at 120 km/h (about 75 mph) without exploding or catching fire. CATL claims its newest tech “sets a new standard for intelligent chassis safety” with comprehensive protection across all scenarios and speed ranges.

According to CATL, the Bedrock Chassis passed the world’s first “highest speed +strongest impact” dual extreme safety test.

In China, the commonly used speed for frontal impact safety tests in the C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program) is 56 km/h (35 mph).

At that speed, the collision generates energy equivalent to falling from a 12-meter-high (39-foot) building. At 120 km/h, it’s like dropping 56 meters (183 feet). According to CATL, the collision energy is 4.6 times greater.

CATL-world's-first-chassis
Ni Jun, Chief Manufacturing Officer of CATL, during the Bedrock Chassis launch event (Source: CATL)

During the launch, Ni Jun, CATL’s chief manufacturing officer, said, “Safety is the core of CATL—it’s part of our DNA.”

A trillion yuan market

There has been no previous instance of a new energy vehicle (NEV) “daring to challenge a 120 km/h frontal pole impact test,” the company said during the event.

With a battery-centered design, CATL’s new Bedrock Chassis directly integrates the battery cells into the unit. The design enables it to absorb 85% of the vehicle’s collision energy compared to about 60% by a traditional chassis.

CATL-world's-first-chassis
CATL launches the world’s first ultra-safe Bedrock Chassis (Source: CATL)

The unit features an “ultra-safe battery cell design,” disconnecting the high-voltage circuit instantly within 0.01 seconds. It will then complete the vehicle’s residual high-voltage energy discharge within 0.2 seconds, a new industry record.

CATL boasted that its new chassis design “paves the way for the industry,” but more importantly, “it also overturns the conventional belief that gasoline vehicles are safer than NEVs.”

CATL-world's-first-chassis
CATL launches Bedrock Chassis, the world’s first ultra-safe skateboard chassis (Source: CATL)

The global EV battery leader claims its new Bedrock Chassis “activates a trillion yuan market” and will accelerate the shift toward modular, personalized, intelligent vehicle design. At the launch event, CATL revealed that AVATR will be the first automaker to use the new tech.

CATL is on a “never-ending journey” to create safer batteries and vehicles to accelerate the industry’s shift to EVs.

The news comes after CATL revealed ambitious plans to expand its EV battery swap network last week with its new “Chocolate” SEB batteries. CATL aims to phase out gas stations over the next few years as it rapidly expands battery swap stations across China.

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BYD’s new EV plant in Brazil suddenly halted over ‘slavery-like’ worker conditions

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BYD's new EV plant in Brazil suddenly halted over 'slavery-like' worker conditions

Construction at BYD’s new EV plant in Brazil was suddenly halted Monday after authorities found Chinese workers in “slavery-like” conditions. The workers were hired in China by another firm, and BYD has since cut ties.

Why construction at BYD’s EV plant in Brazil is halted

According to a statement from the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT), 163 workers at the construction site of BYD’s new EV plant in Salvador, Brazil, were “being held in conditions analogous to slavery.”

Construction on the site was halted on Monday after the findings. According to the authorities, Jinjiang Group, one of the contractors BYD hired to build the new EV plant, hired the workers in China.

BYD released a statement saying it has cut ties with Jinjiang and is assisting the victims as it works with Brazilian authorities. All workers will be transferred to hotels. They will not be able to work and will have their contracts terminated.

Alexandre Baldy, senior vice president of BYD Brazil, said the company remains “committed to full compliance with Brazilian legislation, especially with regard to the protection of workers’ rights and human dignity.”

BYD's-EV-plant-Brazil-halted
BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull) launch in Brazil (Source: BYD)

The MPT statement detailed the extreme “slavery-like” worker conditions. For example, they had one bathroom for every 31 workers, forcing them to wake up at 4 am to get in line to be ready for work at 5:30 am. They slept without mattresses on the bed, and the kitchens operated in “alarming conditions.”

If a worker quit after six months, they would leave the country without any pay after factoring in the cost of a round-trip airplane ticket.

BYD-Shark-Brazil
BYD Shark PHEV pickup (Source: BYD)

BYD said it has held a “detailed review” over the past few weeks. The Chinese EV giant asked Jinjiang several times to improve the conditions.

A joint virtual hearing of the MPT and MTE is scheduled for December 26. The MPT said the need for new “on-site inspections” has not been ruled out. BYD’s new EV plant is set to begin production next year. Check back soon for more updates on the situation.

BYD is already a top-selling EV brand in Brazil. In October, it launched its first pickup, the Shark PHEV. The pickup is BYD’s sixth vehicle in Brazil, joining other popular models like the Dolphin Mini (Seagull), Yuan Plus, and Dolphin.

Source: Bloomberg, Brazil Public Ministry of Labor

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