Wind, solar to provide bulk of new US capacity this summer
May 20 (SeeNews) – The US will add more than 18 GW of generating capacity, mostly wind and solar, through the summer, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said in its summer outlook on Thursday.
According to preliminary data from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the nation’s installed nameplate wind capacity is expected to increase this summer by 7 GW over 2015 figures, reaching 76 GW, FERC said.
NERC expects also that some 4 GW of utility-scale solar capacity will be put into operation in the summer.
According to the outlook, the Western Interconnection system will add 3 GW of solar, 1 GW of wind and 1 GW of natural gas capacity. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), meanwhile, will see the addition of 2 GW of natural gas.
In the Eastern Interconnection system, some 2 GW of solar, 4 GW of wind and 1 GW of natural gas will be brought online. Tennessee Valley Authority will also put into operation 1 GW of nuclear capacity — the first time in more than 20 years that the US will bring online a new nuclear unit.
FERC also paid attention to the challenges the growth in renewables penetration poses to grid operators.
