Renewable energy sources accounted for 20.1 percent of electrical generation in the United States in the first six months of 2019 against 19.9 percent a year earlier, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Solar, including small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, rose 10.5 percent compared to the first half of 2018 and accounted for 2.7 percent of the total net generation. Small-scale solar increased 19.9 percent – providing 32.7 percent of total solar electrical generation.
U.S. wind-generated electricity increased 0.9 percent, while hydropower rose 0.4 percent. Wind energy’s share was 7.8 percent of electrical output vs. 7.7 percent from hydropower.
Wind and solar accounted for 10.5 percent of U.S. electrical generation through the end of June. In addition, biomass provided 1.5 percent and geothermal contributed a bit more than 0.4 percent (reflecting 2.2 percent growth).
Electricity from renewable energy sources ran neck-and-neck with that from nuclear power — 399,585 vs. 400,005 thousand megawatt-hours or 20.11 percent vs. 20.14 percent of total domestic electrical output.
A year ago, renewables provided 74.6 percent as much electricity as coal. However, growth in renewable electrical output coupled with a 13.2 percent drop in that of coal has resulted in renewables generating 85.0 percent as much electricity as coal during the first six months of 2019.
Source : greentechlead
