US Energy Information Administration, Author at CleanTechnica

Utilities: Batteries Are Most Commonly Used for Arbitrage & Grid Stability

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 19:23:19 +0000

Electricity utilities increasingly report using batteries to move electricity from periods of low prices to periods of high prices, a strategy known as arbitrage, according to new detailed information we recently published. At the end of 2023, electricity utilities in the United States reported operating 575 batteries with a collective capacity of ... [continued]

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Graph: Electricity Demand Surges in New England Amid Heat Wave

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 01:19:28 +0000

Electricity demand in New England surged this week as high temperatures persisted through much of the United States. Demand in the electric grid territory of New England’s Independent System Operator (ISO-NE) peaked at 23,324 megawatts (MW) during the evening of June 20, approaching last year’s peak hourly demand in this ... [continued]

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Some U.S. Regions at Risk of Energy Shortfalls in Extreme Summer Conditions

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:28:40 +0000

Parts of the United States could be at risk for electricity supply shortages if electricity demand peaks are higher than anticipated or if less electricity is generated than expected, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) 2024 Summer Reliability Assessment. Under normal summer demand conditions, NERC expects the continental ... [continued]

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Coal Capacity Factor Drops from 55% to 35% in 10 Years in PJM

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:59:04 +0000

Editor’s note: The war on coal is real, and it’s been happening on several fronts. Solar power is replacing coal. Wind power is replacing coal. Natural gas is replacing coal. At the end of the day, coal has been on a long, big decline in the USA. The following update ... [continued]

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U.S. Biodiesel Imports Have Doubled Since 2022 Due To Low Prices In Europe

Fri, 31 May 2024 15:51:11 +0000

Annual U.S. biodiesel imports doubled from 2022 to 2023 to 33,000 barrels per day (b/d) and continued to rise in the first two months of 2024, according to the most recent data available. Much of the increase in biodiesel imports has come from Germany, and the remaining increase has come mostly from ... [continued]

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Forecast Strong Hurricane Season Presents Risk for U.S. Oil & Natural Gas Industry

Tue, 28 May 2024 15:07:21 +0000

Meteorologists are forecasting a particularly intense Atlantic hurricane season this year; they expect 20–25 named storms with a possibility of 30 or more, according to reports from AccuWeather in April. Colorado State University similarly forecasts an estimated 23 named storms this year. The potential for a stronger hurricane season suggests heightened risk for weather-related ... [continued]

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U.S. Electricity Consumption from Light-Duty Vehicles Likely Surpassed Rail in 2023

Mon, 20 May 2024 22:52:34 +0000

Light-duty vehicles (LDV) in the United States used more electricity than rail systems for the first time in 2023, according to new estimates in our Electric Power Monthly. We recently started publishing experimental estimates for LDV electricity consumption, which are not collected on our traditional surveys but are derived using a ... [continued]

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US Summer Gasoline Prices Could Increase from Higher Refining Costs

Thu, 16 May 2024 21:06:45 +0000

Average monthly prices for regular-grade retail gasoline in the United States could increase by more than 10 cents per gallon (gal) if refinery output is lower than expected, according to an analysis we published on May 14. In our May Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which serves as the Base case for our ... [continued]

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Electric Vehicle Sales Decreased from 18.8% to 18% U.S. Market Share in 1st Quarter of 2024

Thu, 16 May 2024 20:55:42 +0000

The share of electric and hybrid vehicle sales in the United States decreased in the first quarter of 2024 as battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales declined. Hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and BEVs fell to 18.0% of total new light-duty vehicle (LDV) sales in the United States in the first quarter ... [continued]

The post Electric Vehicle Sales Decreased from 18.8% to 18% U.S. Market Share in 1st Quarter of 2024 appeared first on CleanTechnica.

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U.S. Coal-Fired Electricity Generation Decreased in 2022 & 2023

Sun, 12 May 2024 03:59:15 +0000

Electricity generation from units that primarily consume coal in the U.S. Lower 48 states decreased for all hours of the day by about 23% between 2021 and 2023, according to our Form EIA-930, Hourly and Daily Balancing Authority Operations Report. Most of the decline occurred between 2022 and 2023, when coal-fired ... [continued]

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U.S. Electric Power Sector Reported Fewer Delays for New Solar Capacity Projects in 2023

Thu, 09 May 2024 07:24:24 +0000

The U.S. electric power sector reported fewer delays to install new utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in 2023 than in 2022. In 2023, solar developers pushed back the scheduled online date for an average of 19% of planned solar capacity compared with an average of 23% in 2022. Although the ... [continued]

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Plant Vogtle Unit 4 Begins Commercial Operation, No More New Nuclear Under Construction

Wed, 01 May 2024 18:48:22 +0000

Georgia Power announced this week that the 1,114-megawatt (MW) Unit 4 nuclear power reactor at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Georgia, entered into commercial operation after connecting to the power grid in March 2024. The commercial start of Unit 4 completes the 11-year expansion project at Plant Vogtle. No nuclear reactors are under construction ... [continued]

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Graphs: U.S. Wind Generation Declined in 2023 for the First Time Since the 1990s

Wed, 01 May 2024 18:26:34 +0000

U.S. electricity generation from wind turbines decreased for the first time since the mid-1990s in 2023 despite the addition of 6.2 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity last year. Data from our Power Plant Operations Report show that U.S. wind generation in 2023 totaled 425,235 gigawatt-hours (GWh), 2.1% less than the 434,297 ... [continued]

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Graph: U.S. Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Decreased by 3% in 2023

Wed, 01 May 2024 15:44:11 +0000

Based on analysis in our most recent U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions report, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions decreased by 3%, about 134 million metric tons (MMmt), in 2023. Over 80% of the emissions reductions occurred in the electric power sector, caused largely by decreased coal-fired electricity generation, which was displaced by increased generation ... [continued]

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U.S. Hydropower Generation Expected to Increase by 6% in 2024 Following Last Year’s Lows

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:11:21 +0000

Last year, U.S. hydropower electricity generation fell to its lowest since 2001. This year, we expect hydropower to increase 6% and account for 250 billion kilowatthours of electricity generation in the power sector, based on forecasts in our Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). We expect hydropower to increase in nearly every part of the ... [continued]

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Introducing the Wholesale Electricity Market Portal (USA)

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 03:04:38 +0000

Yesterday, we publicly released the new Wholesale Electricity Market Portal to help users examine and access electricity markets data in the seven Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators. Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators in the United States Watch this video to learn more about how to use the portal.

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Texas Solar Power Growth Changing the Shape of Daily Electricity Supply in ERCOT

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 03:30:22 +0000

The electricity mix of energy sources in Texas, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) electricity grid operator, changed noticeably in 2023. Although wind power remains the largest source of renewable power in the state, the installation of new wind turbine capacity slowed in 2023, while additions of ... [continued]

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Western U.S. Hydropower Generation Fell to a 22-Year Low Last Year

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:53:31 +0000

According to preliminary data from our Electricity Data Browser, the least hydropower was generated in the western United States during the 2022–23 water year (October 1 through September 30) since at least 2001. Western region hydropower generation dropped by 11% from the previous water year to 141.6 million megawatthours (MWh). Hydropower generation in ... [continued]

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U.S. EIA Increases Oil Price Forecast Following OPEC+ Production Cut Extension

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 03:33:47 +0000

We increased our forecast prices for crude oil and petroleum products for the remainder of 2024 in our March Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) following the announcement that OPEC+ will extend the existing voluntary production cuts through the second quarter of 2024. We now forecast significantly less global oil production than world oil consumption through the first ... [continued]

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U.S. Crude Oil Exports Reached a Record in 2023

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:22:41 +0000

U.S. crude oil exports established a record in 2023, averaging 4.1 million barrels per day (b/d), 13% (482,000 b/d) more than the previous annual record set in 2022. Except for 2021, U.S. crude oil exports have increased every year since 2015, when the U.S. ban on most crude oil exports was ... [continued]

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4 Countries Could Account for Most Near-Term Petroleum Liquids Supply Growth

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:00:47 +0000

In 2023, the world produced an estimated 101.8 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum and other liquids: mostly crude oil but also lease condensate, natural gas liquids, biofuels, and other liquids from hydrocarbon sources. We expect the global petroleum and other liquids supply to increase by about 0.4 million ... [continued]

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Winter Storms Have Disrupted U.S. Natural Gas Production

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 03:35:52 +0000

Over the last four winters, winter storms Uri (February 2021), Elliott (December 2022), and most recently, Heather (January 2024) interrupted weekly U.S. natural gas production by more than 15 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to daily estimates from S&P Global Commodity Insights. These declines were the largest interruptions ... [continued]

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United States Produces More Crude Oil Than Any Country, Ever

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 03:16:32 +0000

The United States produced more crude oil than any nation at any time, according to our International Energy Statistics, for the past six years in a row. Crude oil production in the United States, including condensate, averaged 12.9 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2023, breaking the previous U.S. and global ... [continued]

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Can We Connect Renewable Energy Hubs With Electricity Consumption Hubs?

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 03:20:57 +0000

New Approach to Transmission Planning Links Renewable Energy Zones to Major Load Centers via Longer, High-Voltage Transmission A new approach to grid planning could make it possible to power your home with the nation’s best and lowest-cost wind and solar energy, no matter where you live. Researchers at the National ... [continued]

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Washington State’s Emissions Allowance Program’s 1st Auctions

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 23:41:00 +0000

Washington State wrapped up its first full year of auctions for tradable emission allowances in December, as the state considers joining an integrated regional greenhouse gas reduction program with California and Québec. In 2021, the Washington state legislature set up a cap-and-invest program that creates tradable emission allowances as a measure to ... [continued]

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Reduced U.S. Refinery Activity Puts Upward Pressure on Gasoline & Diesel Prices

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:01:54 +0000

Since early January 2024, U.S. refinery utilization has decreased 11%, falling as low as 81% during the two weeks ending February 9 and February 16, and briefly dropped below the five-year (2019–2023) low. Although U.S. retail average prices for gasoline and diesel are below 2023 prices for this time of year, ... [continued]

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More Productive Wells Spur U.S. Crude Oil Production Higher

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 13:02:49 +0000

U.S. crude oil production averaged 13.3 million barrels per day (b/d) in December 2023, following sustained productivity increases at new wells, according to our latest Petroleum Supply Monthly (PSM). U.S. crude oil production has increased to record highs since 2010 and has risen even more quickly in recent months. These record ... [continued]

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Crude Oil Processing in China Hit a Record High in 2023

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:01:04 +0000

Crude oil processing, or refinery runs, in China averaged 14.8 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2023, an all-time high. The record processing came as the economy and refinery capacity grew in China following the country’s COVID-19 pandemic responses in 2022. China has increased refinery capacity more than any other country in ... [continued]

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Henry Hub Daily Natural Gas Spot Price Fell to Record Lows in February

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:28:42 +0000

The U.S. benchmark Henry Hub daily natural gas price averaged $1.50 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) on February 20, 2024, the lowest price in inflation-adjusted dollars since at least 1997, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon. High natural gas production, low natural gas consumption, and higher natural gas inventories than the ... [continued]

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United States Remained Largest Liquefied Natural Gas Supplier to Europe in 2023

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 20:46:31 +0000

The United States was again the largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe (EU-27 and the UK) in 2023, accounting for nearly half of total LNG imports, according to data from CEDIGAZ. Last year marks the third consecutive year in which the United States supplied more LNG to Europe ... [continued]

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Retirements of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity to Slow in 2024

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:00:52 +0000

Operators plan to retire 5.2 gigawatts (GW) of U.S. electric generating capacity in 2024, a 62% decrease from last year when 13.5 GW was retired and the least in any year since 2008, according to our latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. Coal and natural gas jointly account for 91% of the planned capacity retirements in the United States this year.

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Solar & Battery Storage to Make Up 81% of New U.S. Electric-Generating Capacity in 2024

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 15:56:26 +0000

Developers and power plant owners plan to add 62.8 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity in 2024, according to our latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. This addition would be 55% more added capacity than the 40.4 GW added in 2023 (the most since 2003) and points to a continued ... [continued]

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U.S. Natural Gas Consumption Established A New Daily Record in January 2024

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 15:40:09 +0000

On January 16, 2024, a record high of 141.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas was consumed in the U.S. Lower 48 states (L48), exceeding the previous record set on December 23, 2022, according to estimates from S&P Global Commodity Insights. Well-below-normal temperatures caused by a large mass of arctic ... [continued]

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Natural Gas Spot Price Forecast for 2024 & 2025

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 04:30:28 +0000

We expect the U.S. benchmark Henry Hub natural gas spot price to average higher in 2024 and 2025 than in 2023, but to remain lower than $3.00 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), in our February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). We forecast increases in natural gas prices as demand for natural gas grows ... [continued]

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Nuclear Reactor Restarts in Japan Have Reduced LNG Imports for Electricity Generation

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 20:40:44 +0000

After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident, Japan suspended operations at all of its remaining 48 nuclear power reactors by 2013 and relied almost exclusively on imported natural gas to replace the lost electricity generation. In 2015, Japan allowed its first nuclear power reactor to resume operations. As of December 2022, 11 ... [continued]

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Tracking Electricity Consumption From U.S. Cryptocurrency Mining Operations

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 03:23:54 +0000

Electricity demand associated with U.S. cryptocurrency mining operations in the United States has grown very rapidly over the last several years. Our preliminary estimates suggest that annual electricity use from cryptocurrency mining probably represents from 0.6% to 2.3% of U.S. electricity consumption. 1 This additional electricity use has drawn the attention ... [continued]

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Electric Vehicles & Hybrids Surpass 16% of Total 2023 U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Sales

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:29:34 +0000

Combined sales of hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the United States rose to 16.3% of total new light-duty vehicle (LDV) sales in 2023, according to data from Wards Intelligence. In 2022, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and BEV sales were 12.9% of total sales. The full-year ... [continued]

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Projected Zero-Carbon Electricity Growth Highly Dependent On Cost In Parts of Asia

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:47:49 +0000

We project low zero-carbon technology costs will drive substantial growth in zero-carbon electricity capacity and generation and limit growth in fossil fuel-fired generation in parts of Asia between 2030 and 2050 in our International Energy Outlook 2023 (IEO2023). In the region we call Other Asia-Pacific (OAS), we project the electric power sector’s CO2 emission ... [continued]

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Fewer Markets Are Importing Russia’s Coal

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:25:01 +0000

Russia’s reliance on four, mainly Asian, countries to import its coal has increased since some countries implemented sanctions against Russia after it invaded Ukraine, according to Global Trade Tracker data. This trade shift corresponds with increased coal exports from the United States to Europe and EU sanctions that went into full effect ... [continued]

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In Most U.S. Regions, 2024 Wholesale Electricity Prices Will Be Similar to 2023

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 12:01:51 +0000

We expect average wholesale electricity prices for 2024 in most areas of the country to be close to or slightly lower than in 2023 because of relatively stable generation fuel costs. However, periods of high demand or power market supply constraints could lead to temporary spikes in wholesale prices. We ... [continued]

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Solar & Wind to Lead Growth of U.S. Power Generation in Next Two Years

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 03:30:01 +0000

In our latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast that wind and solar energy will lead growth in U.S. power generation for the next two years. As a result of new solar projects coming on line this year, we forecast that U.S. solar power generation will grow 75% from 163 billion kilowatthours ... [continued]

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U.S. EIA Expects Relatively Flat Crude Oil Prices in 2024 & 2025

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:43:54 +0000

We forecast average annual crude oil prices in 2024 and 2025 will remain near their 2023 average because we expect that global supply and demand for petroleum liquids will be relatively balanced over the next two years. We expect the Brent crude oil price will average $82 per barrel (b) ... [continued]

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U.S. EIA: Solar Will Supply Almost All Growth in U.S. Electricity Generation through 2025

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 04:34:25 +0000

We expect solar electric generation will be the leading source of growth in the U.S. electric power sector. In our January Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), which contains new forecast data through December 2025, we forecast new capacity will boost the solar share of total generation to 5.6% in 2024 and 7.0% in ... [continued]

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U.S. Battery Storage Capacity Expected to Nearly Double in 2024

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 03:56:00 +0000

Two states with rapidly growing wind and solar generating fleets account for the bulk of the capacity additions. California has the most installed battery storage capacity of any state, with 7.3 GW, followed by Texas with 3.2 GW. The rapid growth of variable solar and wind capacity in states such as California ... [continued]

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U.S. Average Retail Gasoline Prices Were 40 Cents A Gallon Lower In 2023 Than 2022

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:10:26 +0000

U.S. retail gasoline prices in 2023 averaged $0.43 per gallon (gal) less than in 2022, according to data from our Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. This decline was due, in part, to lower crude oil prices in 2023 compared with 2022 and higher gasoline inventories in the second half of 2023. ... [continued]

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