ACP report shows record quarter for clean energy installations

According to a report by the American Clean Power Association (ACP), renewable energy project installations will reach 19 GW of generating capacity by the first half of 2024, more than double the five-year average for that period.

On September 5, ACP released its “Quarterly Clean Energy Market Report | Q2 2024” and said the data showed “extraordinary growth and milestones in the U.S. clean energy landscape.” The group said that “in a record second quarter, U.S. developers added 11 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale clean energy capacity, up 91% compared to Q2 2023.”

The group said the second half of most years is typically stronger than the first half in terms of adding clean energy projects, saying “the stage is set for a second consecutive record year in 2024.” The ACP report said more than 283 GW of renewable energy, including energy storage, is currently operational across the U.S.

“Clean energy is answering the call to unleash more American energy with another record quarter of deployments,” said ACP CEO Jason Grumet. “While all clean energy technologies are gaining market share, energy storage is scaling at breakneck speed and has surpassed 20 GW of operational capacity.”

Grumet added: “With demand growing rapidly and the need to take significant steps to decarbonize our economy, the stakes are high. Our recent progress is encouraging, but we are not moving fast enough. ACP is committed to working with all stakeholders and policymakers to accelerate progress toward a safe, reliable and clean energy future.”

The report was published just days before the start of RE+, the largest trade fair in the clean energy industry. POWER is a partner of RE+ and is publishing a supplement to the event for the third year in a row. This year’s RE+ will take place from September 9-12 in Anaheim, California.

The most important information in the report

ACP highlighted several data points in its report. The group said developers added more than 11 GW of new utility-scale solar, storage and wind capacity in the second quarter, 91% more than was installed during the same period in 2023.

The group noted that Texas had surpassed California as the nation’s leading state in utility-scale solar capacity for the first time. Texas added 1,656 MW of solar capacity between April and June; ACP said the state now has 21,932 MW of solar capacity.

The US energy storage sector surpassed 20 GW of total operational capacity, adding 2.9 GW in the second quarter to reach a total capacity of 21.6 GW.

The ACP report shows annual growth in clean energy has increased by 13% from 2023. It also noted that “significant expansions (are) expected in the coming months for offshore wind,” following a second quarter in which more than 4 GW of capacity was under construction.

Onshore wind also continues to grow, with 5.5 GW more onshore wind projects under construction at midyear than at the same point in 2023. Total onshore wind capacity under construction across the U.S. is more than 14 GW, according to the group.

—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor of POWER (@POWERmagazine).