In the first half of 2024, the U.S. power grid saw a significant increase in generating capacity. Developers and power plant owners added 20.2 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity, 3.6 GW more than the capacity added during the same period in 2023. Plans are in place to add another 42.6 GW in the second half of the year.
Solar continued to lead the way in capacity additions, accounting for 12 GW, or 59% of total new capacity. Texas and Florida were the main suppliers, together accounting for 38% of these solar additions. Notable projects that came online included the 690 megawatt (MW) Gemini solar and storage facility in Nevada and the 653 MW Lumina Solar Project in Texas.
Battery storage was the second largest contributor, with 4.2 GW, or 21% of new capacity. The majority of new battery storage capacity was concentrated in California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada, with California alone accounting for 37% of the total. Major projects included the 380 MW battery storage capacity at Gemini and the 300 MW Eleven Mile Solar Center in Arizona.
Wind power added 2.5 GW, or 12% of new capacity. The largest wind power projects included Canyon Wind and Goodnight, both in Texas, with capacities of 309 MW and 266 MW, respectively.
Nuclear energy also recorded growth. The Vogtle nuclear power plant in the US state of Georgia started up its fourth reactor block with an output of 1,114 MW. This makes Vogtle the largest nuclear power plant in the USA and the only one with four reactors.
On the other hand, the retirement of generating capacity has slowed in 2024. Operators retired 5.1 GW in the first half of the year, compared to 9.2 GW in the same period in 2023. Of the retired capacity, more than half (53%) used natural gas, while 41% used coal. The largest retirements included Unit 1 of Seminole Electric Cooperative in Florida and Unit 1 of Homer City Generating Station in Pennsylvania, both of which were coal-fired. The Mystic Generating Station in Massachusetts, a large natural gas-fired power plant, was also retired.
For the second half of 2024, developers plan to add 42.6 GW of new capacity. Solar is expected to account for nearly 60% of that, with 25 GW planned. Battery storage is expected to add 10.8 GW, and wind is expected to contribute 4.6 GW. If all planned solar capacity comes online, 2024 will set a new record of 37 GW of solar additions, nearly double the 18.8 GW added last year. Likewise, a record amount of battery storage could be added this year, 15 GW, with Texas and California accounting for the majority of the new storage capacity.
In the second half of 2024, around 2.4 GW of capacity is to be decommissioned, including 0.7 GW of coal and 1.1 GW of natural gas.
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