Renewables provide 25.23% of the nation's electricity generation in the first six months of 2022, according to a SUN DAY Campaign review of just-released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The latest issue of EIA's Electricity Monthly Report (data as of June 30, 2022) shows that electricity generation from renewables, including residential solar systems, has grown by nearly a fifth, or about 18.45%, compared to the same period last year. %, or just over a quarter of total U.S. electricity generation.
During the six-month period, wind power grew by 24.67% and accounted for 11.55% of total electricity generation. Meanwhile, solar energy grew by 27.72%, providing 4.94% of the country's electricity output. In June alone, solar accounted for 5.70% of U.S. electricity generation.
Overall, renewable energy generated 28.76% and 38.81% more electricity than coal and nuclear power, respectively. Wind and solar generate almost as much electricity as nuclear in the US (344,685 GWh vs. 379,927 GWh) and actually surpassed nuclear in April.
The EIA expects renewables to account for 22 percent of U.S. electricity output this year. Including household solar power, the actual share of renewable energy was 22.3% last year and 24.4% in the first quarter of this year. For half the year, renewables accounted for more than 25 percent, beating EIA's annual forecast.
