The US installed 7GW of wind in 2017 as the average price of long-term power deals for the sector dropped to two cents per kilowatt-hour.
Department of Energy figures released this week showed 89GW of wind farms produced 6.3% of the nationwide energy mix in 2017 with 14 states hitting 10% and four of notching 30%-plus.
The average capacity of new turbines in the US was 2.32MW, up 8% year on year and 224% since 1998-99. Capacity factors are also up by 79% compared with projects built between 1998 and 2001.
“Bigger turbines with longer blades are enhancing wind plant performance,” said DoE.
Distributed wind hit 1GW last year with more than 81,000 turbine now installed across the fleet. A total of 35% of there were installed at homes with 25% in agricultural applications.
US-based small wind turbine manufacturers accounted for more than $226m in export sales between 2015 and 2017.
The wind industry supported 105,500 jobs in 2017.
The full reports are available here.
Image: EDP
US wind sector riding high
By EBS