Wind farms will become key in the US energy system

In 2024 wind farms will provide a record share of electricity production in the United States. Wind power will become the second largest source of clean energy in the US power system after nuclear power plants.

Shortages of parts, jumps in labor costs and long development times have slowed down the pace of wind farm construction in the past few years, Channel 24 reports citing Reuters. But recent reductions in development costs and favorable tax credits that will become available in 2025 have renewed wind energy project growth in 2024.

US wind power capacity up 135% in 10 years

This should contribute to a further increase in the status of wind energy in the structure of electricity production in the USA and the transformation of wind farms into a key component of the US energy system in the coming years.

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the current installed wind generation capacity in the US is approximately 152 gigawatts (GW). This capacity is up 46% from 2019 and up 135% from 10 years ago.

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Over the past decade, annual growth in US wind power capacity has averaged 9%, slightly more than Europe over the same period, but slower than the global average of 13% per year.

The growth rate in the US is also much slower than the 19% per year in China, the world's largest producer of wind power.

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However, the US ranks second in total wind power capacity after China and is ahead of Germany, India and Spain in the top five.

Wind power accounts for 12% of capacity

The steady growth of wind power capacity in the US has led to significant changes in the structure of electricity generation in the country.

According to EIA data, wind power accounted for an average of 15% of the increase in capacity in the US power system from 2000 to 2010, and since 2010 – 27% capacity growth.

Combined solar and wind capacity has accounted for about 60% of the U.S. grid capacity growth since 2010, underscoring the U.S. drive for clean energy during this time.

As of 2023, wind power accounted for 12% of U.S. electricity generation capacity, compared with 11% for solar, 8% for nuclear, 7% for hydro, 16% for coal and 43% for natural gas, according to Ember data.