In the US, solar has taken up all the land in record time

For the first time in U.S. energy history, solar photovoltaics have generated more electricity than wind power over the course of a month. And even for two months in a row.

It happened this summer. In July and August 2024, solar energy reached 7.41 and 7.42% of US electricity generation, far surpassing wind, which contributed 6.36 and 6.65%, respectively.

Although wind energy still dominates the annual balance (in 2023 it produced 76% more electricity than solar), the overtaking It now seems inevitable.

Uneven growth. This milestone, officially recorded by the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), reflects a global trend. While solar energy grows unstoppably, the deployment of wind energy has slowed.

Even though wind turbines produce more electricity per installation than solar panels, installed solar power capacity worldwide has increased by 34% so far in 2024, while wind power has only grown by 5%.

Why does it happen? The wild production of solar panels in China has drastically reduced their cost. The new photovoltaic modules are not much more efficient than a few years ago, but they are more accessible and profitable. And the renewed push for battery storage is making it possible to take much better advantage of all that solar capacity.

Wind power, for its part, is faced with the size of the wind turbines and all the associated challenges: higher transportation and installation costs, more public opposition due to their visual impact, and fewer available locations due to regulatory obstacles.

The United States is becoming more solar. As of August 2024, the United States was operating a total of 107.4 GW of solar capacity, according to the EIA. In August of the previous year, photovoltaic installations in operation totaled 81.9 GW.

In California, the paradigmatic case of the country, photovoltaic solar energy has exceeded 30% of electricity generation in the last 12 months. And other sunny states, like South Dakota and Montana, are also coming online with more and more large solar installations.

The seasonal effect. Despite this strong commitment to photovoltaic energy, wind energy is expected to regain its leadership during the winter months. Solar generation peaks during the summer months and reduces in winter due to shorter days and lower sunlight irradiation.

In contrast, wind generation increases in winter, reaching its maximum in the month of March, in the case of the United States. They are complementary energies.

The importance of having both. That wind power puts on the brakes is not good news for the common objective of decarbonizing the electricity sector. Wind will continue to have a higher plant factor, meaning it will always produce more energy per installed unit than solar.

But the balance between solar and wind energy is not only a question of installed capacity, but also of seasonal and geographical complementarity. Wind turbines work when solar panels stop working: at night, during storms, in places with little sun… Both are needed.

Image | Pexels

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