Data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) suggests that new installed utility solar and wind capacity exceeded 9GW in the first third of 2023.
A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of FERC data suggests that installed utility-scale solar and wind generating capacity grew by 5390MW and 3620MW respectively in the first four months of this year.
FERC had earlier reported in its monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report for December 2022 that installed US utility-scale solar generating capacity had reached 80,400MW by the end of last year.
In its most recent report, with data through 30 April 2023, FERC estimated there was 85,790MW of installed solar generating capacity, not including new small-scale distributed PV systems.
The regulator also calculated that the 143,280MW of installed wind generating capacity at the end of 2022 had increased to 146,900MW between then and the period ending 30 April 2023.
Between May 2023 and April 2026, FERC anticipates 77,861MW of net new “high probability” utility-scale solar capacity additions accompanied by 19,935MW of net new “high probability” wind additions.