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How Does U.S. Electricity Generation Change Over One Week?

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The following content is sponsored by the National Public Utilities Council

U.S. electricity mix over one week

How Does U.S. Electricity Generation Change in a Week?

The U.S. has a dynamic electricity mix, with a range of energy sources generating electricity at different times of the day.

At all times, the amount of electricity generated must match demand in order to keep the power grid in balance, which leads to cyclical patterns in daily and weekly electricity generation.

The above graphic sponsored by the National Public Utilities Council tracks hourly changes in U.S. electricity generation over one week, based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The Three Types of Power Plants

Before diving in, it’s important to distinguish between the three main types of power plants in the U.S. electricity mix:

  • Base load plants generally run at full or near-full capacity and are used to meet the base load or the minimum amount of electricity demanded at all times. These are typically coal-fired or nuclear power plants. If regionally available, geothermal and hydropower plants can also be used as baseload sources.
  • Peak load or peaking power plants are typically dispatchable and can be ramped up quickly during periods of high demand. These plants usually operate at maximum capacity only for a few hours a day and include gas-fired and pumped-storage hydropower plants.
  • Intermediate load plants are used during the transitory hours between base load and peak load demand. Intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar (without battery storage) are suitable for intermediate use, along with other sources.

Zooming In: The U.S. Hourly Electricity Mix

With that context, the table below provides an overview of average hourly electricity generation by source for the week of March 7–March 14, 2023, in the Eastern Time Zone.

It’s worth noting that while this is representative of a typical week of electricity generation, these patterns can change with seasons. For example, in the month of June, electricity demand usually peaks around 5 PM, when solar generation is still high, unlike in March.

Energy SourceTypeAvg. Hourly Electricity Generation, MWh
(Mar 07–14, 2023, EST)
Natural GasFossil fuel175,967
NuclearNon-renewable84,391
CoalFossil fuel71,922
WindRenewable50,942
HydroRenewable28,889
SolarRenewable13,213
OtherMixed8,192

Natural gas is the country’s largest source of electricity, with gas-fired plants generating an average of 176,000 MWh of electricity per hour throughout the week outlined above. The dispatchable nature of natural gas is evident in the chart, with gas-fired generation falling in the wee hours and rising during business hours.

Meanwhile, nuclear electricity generation remains steady throughout the given days and week, ranging between 80,000–85,000 MWh per hour. Nuclear plants are designed to operate for long durations (1.5 to 2 years) before refueling and require less maintenance, allowing them to provide reliable baseload energy.

On the other hand, wind and solar generation tend to see large fluctuations throughout the week. For example, during the week of March 07–14, wind generation ranged between 26,875 MWh and 77,185 MWh per hour, based on wind speeds. Solar generation had stronger extremes, often reaching zero or net-negative at night and rising to over 40,000 MWh in the afternoon.

Because wind and solar are often variable and location-specific, integrating them into the grid can pose challenges for grid operators, who rely on forecasts to keep electricity supply and demand in balance. So, what are some ways to solve these problems?

Solving the Renewable Intermittency Challenge

As more renewable capacity is deployed, here are three ways to make the transition smoother.

  • Energy storage systems can be combined with renewables to mitigate variability. Batteries can store electricity during times of high generation (for example, in the afternoon for solar), and supply it during periods of peak demand.
  • Demand-side management can be used to shift flexible demand to times of high renewable generation. For instance, utilities can collaborate with their industrial customers to ensure that certain factory lines only run in the afternoon, when solar generation peaks.
  • Expanding transmission lines can help connect high-quality solar and wind resources in remote regions to centers of demand. In fact, as of the end of 2021, over 900 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity (notably more than the country’s current renewable capacity) were queued for grid interconnection.

Click here to learn more about how electric utilities and the power sector can lead on the path toward decarbonization.

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Energy

Visualized: Offshore Wind Installations by Region (2023–2033)

This streamgraph shows projected offshore wind capacity by region according to The Global Wind Energy Council.

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The preview image for a streamgraph showing projected offshore wind capacity by region according to The Global Wind Energy Council.

Visualized: Offshore Wind Installations by Region (2023–2033)

In order to meet the 1.5°C trajectory outlined in the Paris Agreement, the world will need 380 GW of offshore cumulative wind capacity by 2030, expanding to 2,000 GW by 2050. But can it be achieved?

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) projects the upcoming offshore wind installations for each region in their Global Offshore Wind Report 2024.

This streamgraph, created in partnership with the National Public Utilities Council, shows the offshore wind installations of each region from 2023–2033, as projected by GWEC.

The Future Projections

The GWEC says that annual offshore wind installations will move from 10.9 GW in 2023 to 66.0 GW by 2033. The growth will elevate offshore wind’s share of new wind power installations from today’s 9% to at least 25%.

In 2033, Europe and China are expected to lead, with 43% and 30% of global installations, respectively. The U.S., despite its ambitious goals, will contribute just 8% of new capacity in the same year.

Here is a regional breakdown of projected future offshore wind installations in GW.

YearEuropeChinaAsia PacificNorth AmericaOther
20233.86.30.8--
20243.7121.10.9-
20255.6151.71-
20268.8152.92.6-
20279.4153.12.6-
202810155.42.4-
202917.2165.82.6-
203022.7167.13.10.4
203127.9188.54.51
203228.21895.51
203328.22010.561.5

Asia Pacific excludes China, Installation estimates in GW

California leads the U.S. efforts, targeting 25.0 GW in cumulative installations by 2045, followed by New Jersey at 11.0 GW. Despite its smaller population, Maryland aims to nearly match New York’s 9.0 GW with a target of 8.5 GW.

The U.S. has already taken strides, bringing online its first utility-scale project, Vineyard Wind 1, which added 0.8 GW to the grid.

With over 25 GW in various stages of development, the Biden administration’s goal is 30 GW by 2030, and has aspirations for 110 GW by 2050. The Inflation Reduction Act, passed under the same administration, previously allocated $392.5 billion in clean energy and climate spending.

The Economic Benefits of Offshore Wind

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) projects that the high scenario of an installation rate of 3 GW per year, with 60% domestic content, could generate $25.0 billion annually and support over 83,000 jobs by 2030.

Recent area lease auctions, such as those in the New York Bight and Carolina Long Bay, have fetched record-breaking bids totalling over $4.3 billion.

Decarbonization requires sustained effort, but with strategic investments and a commitment to innovation, offshore wind could be the wind beneath the wings of a sustainable energy future.

Learn how the National Public Utilities Council is working toward the future of sustainable electricity.

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Energy

Ranked: The Largest Power Outages in the U.S. (2013–2023)

Severe weather caused all ten of the largest U.S. power outages in the past decade, highlighting the importance of grid resiliency.

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the preview image for a polar bar chart that ranks the top ten power outages in the U.S. between 2013 and 2023, ordered by the number of customers affected.

Ranked: The Largest Power Outages in the U.S. (2013–2023)

Power outages—whether due to operational failures, extreme weather, vandalism, or fuel shortages—can have far-reaching impacts on both customers and utility companies.

Created in partnership with The National Public Utilities Council, this graphic shows the 10 largest power outages in the U.S. from the last decade, using data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 

A Decade Of Power Disruptions In Review

The U.S. DOE defines a power outage as an event in which electric service is lost to more than 50,000 customers for one hour or more. 

Between 2013 and 2023, all 10 of the largest U.S. outages—ranked by the number of customers affected—have been due to severe weather events. Hurricanes and winter storms, specifically, have caused eight of the 10 outages. 

YearNumber of Customers AffectedEventArea Affected
20173,500,000Hurricane IrmaFlorida
20212,000,000Winter stormTexas
20181,458,000Hurricane FlorenceNorth & South Carolina
20161,200,000Hurricane MatthewFlorida
20201,188,000Tropical Storm IsaiasNew England
20171,077,000Hurricane HarveyTexas
2019972,000WildfiresCalifornia
2013881,000Winter stormTexas
2023730,000Winter stormNew England
2014715,000Winter stormPennsylvania

Hurricane Irma tops this list by leaving 3.5 million Floridians without power in 2017. Irma was a Category 5 hurricane that impacted the Southeastern state and several island nations, leading to more than $50 billion in damages in Florida alone.

While Florida experienced the largest outage between 2013 and 2023, Texas has the most events in the top 10 list. These were caused by a winter storm in 2021, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and another winter storm in 2013. 

Investing in a Resilient Grid

The causes of the U.S.’s largest outage events highlight the vulnerability of its transmission infrastructure to extreme weather. 

As of 2023, 70% of U.S. transmission lines were over 25 years old. This makes them more susceptible to power outages, cyber-attacks, and sparking wildfires. 

It is also relevant to note that extreme weather events are increasing in both frequency and intensity due to climate change. Addressing infrastructure vulnerability, therefore, may be a critical aspect of maintaining reliable power in the decades to come. 

Learn how the National Public Utilities Council is working toward the future of sustainable electricity.

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