The production of U.S. energy from solar increased by 13.85% in 2019, while that from wind grew by 10.06%, according to a SUN DAY Campaign analysis of newly released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The latest issue of EIA’s Monthly Energy Review (with data through Dec. 31, 2019) reveals that – for the first time – in 2019, energy from solar sources topped 1% of total U.S. energy production, while energy from wind reached nearly 3% (2.71%).
The growth in solar and wind energy’s contribution to the nation’s energy mix was largely offset by declines in hydropower (down 6.41%), biomass (down 3.67%) and biofuels (down 2.92%). Geothermal remained unchanged.
Energy production by all renewable energy sources combined (i.e., biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) increased just marginally last year (0.24%) compared to 2018. Consumption of renewable energy also expanded – but by only 0.53%.
While energy production by the combination of all renewables did register very modest growth, a 7.06% expansion in output by fossil fuels resulted in renewables’ share of total energy production actually dropping from 12.14% in 2018 to 11.52% in 2019. But renewables’ share of domestic energy consumption did increase slightly from 11.27% to 11.45%.
To read EIA’s Monthly Energy Review concerning the production and consumption of renewable energy in 2019, click here.
Photo: EIA’s landing page
