EIA Expects Gas to Dominate US Power Additions

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said May 7 it expects natural gas will dominate expected additions to the country’s power generation grid in 2018, although renewables will also play a key role.

In its Today in Energy information release, the EIA said nearly 32 GW of new electric generating capacity will come online in the US this year, and while renewables – primarily wind and solar – accounted for 98% of the 2 GW added so far this year, some 21 GW of natural gas generating capacity will be added over the balance of the year.

“If these generators come online based on their reported timelines, 2018 will be the first year since 2013 in which renewables did not make up a majority of added capacity,” the EIA said.

Last year, renewables accounted for 55% of the 21 GW of new capacity added to the national grid, the fourth consecutive year in which renewables made up more than half of all additions. As of February 2018, renewables accounted for 22% of currently operating generating capacity in the US.

Half of the new gas generating capacity expected online this year consists of combined-cycle units that will be added to the PJM Regional Transmission Organisation, which spans parts of several mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states.