energy information Administration of the USA has published the final data on the structure of the energy balance for 2019. It follows that for the first time in the history of the country the output of wind power plants (RES) exceeded HPP production. In the future the share of wind in the energy mix of the United States will only increase and by 2030 could reach 20%.
In 2019, the wind became the most popular source of renewable energy in the United States. According to the Department's energy information administration (EIA), last year wind farms produced 300 million MW*h of energy. This is 26 million MWh more than the hydropower plants.
As reports CNBC, wind energy surpassed hydropower for the first time in the history of the country. This result was achieved thanks to the constant growth of the sector over the past decade.
"Over the past decade has seen a steady increase in wind power capacity across the country, and we have completed a decade of great achievement for the industry, reaching more than 100 GW," said Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American wind energy Association.
At the end of 2019, the US has installed 103 GW of wind power plants, of which 77% launched in the last ten years. Total hydropower capacity reached 80 GW.
This is partly explained by the extension of the Tax credit for the production, or PTC system, which provides operators with a tax credit per kilowatt-hour of renewable electricity production. This refers to the first 10 years of operation.
According to EIA, by 2030 the share of wind in total electricity generation will reach 20%. This will be possible at the expense of investments in the amount of 62 billion dollars that will be invested in the industry in the next few years.
Earlier, the energy information Administration of the USA has made a forecast that in 20 years, by 2040, renewables will overtake gas generation power plant. Note, however, that this is a fairly conservative forecast. In reality, the situation may change quickly.
