In 2019, the amount of electricity generated by wind power surpassed hydroelectric power for the first time, making wind the largest renewable source of electricity generation in the country.

Total wind generation in 2019 was 300 million MWh, which was 26

million MWh more than was produced by hydroelectric plants.

Hydroelectric generation has fluctuated between 250 and 320 million

MWh over the past decade.  The capacity

base has been stable, so the fluctuations were a result of variable annual

precipitation.   Hydroelectric generation

is generally greatest in the spring when rain and melting snow pack increase

water runoff.

The growth in wind power is primarily a result of increasing capacity

rather than any major fluctuations in wind caused by changing weather.  The U.S. added about 10 GW of wind capacity

in 2019, making it the second largest year for capacity additions ever, second

only to 2012.

Wind energy is an intermittent source, meaning that it isn’t windy all

the time.  The average annual capacity

factor for the U.S. wind fleet over the past decade has been 28 to 35%, meaning

that is the amount of energy actually produced compared with the systems

running at continuous full power all the time. 

By comparison, the U.S. hydroelectric fleet operated at 35 to 43% of

capacity during that period.  So, wind

power is actually not that much less a steady source than hydroelectric power.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the

government’s production tax credit, which was extended through this year, means

that wind power capacity in the U.S. will continue to grow at a robust

pace.  Meanwhile, some dams are being

decommissioned and there is little new construction in the hydropower sector.

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Wind has overtaken the top position for renewable generation in the U.S., EIA says

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.