U.S. wind generation sets record in April, tops coal generation

Wind electricity generation set a new record in April and exceeded coal-fired generation in both March and April, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

EIA’s 2024 Monthly Energy Review revealed that U.S. wind generation exceeded coal-fired generation in March for the first time since April 2023. But this is the first time that U.S. wind generation has exceeded coal-fired generation for two months in a row.

In March, wind installations in the United States produced 45.9 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity, compared with 38.4 GWh from coal-fired power plants. In April 2024, coal-fired generation fell to 37.2 GWh, while wind generation increased to a record 47.7 GWh.

Looking at the numbers from 20 years ago, it shows how wind generation has grown. In March of 2004, coal-fired generation produced 154.3 GWh of electricity, while wind produced 1.3 GWh.

Also, since 2000, electricity from solar power has increased by 99.1 GWh, and generation from natural gas, which is often more price competitive than coal in electricity market dispatch, has increased by 287.6 GWh.

After record wind capacity additions of more than 14.0 GW in both 2020 and 2021, the development of new U.S. wind facilities has slowed in the last two years. Operators expect 7.1 GW of wind capacity to come online in the United States in 2024.

Also, 22.3 GW of U.S. coal-fired electric generating capacity have been retired over the past two years. Operators plan to retire 2.8 GW of coal-fired capacity in 2024.

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