USA: Geothermal Steam Generating Capacity is 3,850 MW at the End of 2018

FERC Data: Renewables Now 21% Of U.S.’ Energy Capacity (Solar Industry)

Even though natural gas dominated new electrical generating capacity in 2018, renewable energy sources seem poised to swamp fossil fuels as new generating capacity is added over the next three years, according to a SUN DAY Campaign analysis of newly released data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

FERC’s “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with data through Dec. 31, 2018) notes that new natural gas generation placed in service in 2018 totaled 20,048 MW, or 64.9% of the total (30,881 MW).

Renewable sources (biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind) accounted for 10,392 MW, or 33.7%. The balance (1.4%) was provided by nuclear (350 MW), waste heat (51 MW), oil (25 MW), coal (10 MW) and “other” (5 MW).

New geothermal steam generation in 2018 amounted to an additional 82 MW from 4 units. Most of this came from ORNI (Ormat) 41 LLC’s 61.8 MW McGinness Hills Geothermal Project in Lander County, NV going online.

The total available installed geothermal steam generating capacity is now 3.85 GW which represents 0.32% of total capacity.

FERC reports that an additional 943 MW of geothermal steam capacity from 19 units will be added by 2022.

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