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EIA: CO2 emissions declined, solar was largest source of new generation in 2023

EIA: CO2 emissions declined, solar was largest source of new generation in 2023

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts the U.S. energy sector to emit about 4,790 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2023, a 3% decrease from 2022, with much of the decline resulting from lower electricity generation from coal-fired power plants due to higher generation from renewable sources such as solar power, the EIA said.

The EIA expects this trend to continue into 2024, with CO2 emissions declining 1% relative to 2023.

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, November 2023

Additionally, the EIA forecasts solar power as the fastest-growing generation source and the largest source of new generation in 2023, as noted in a review by the SUN DAY Campaign, a non-profit research and educational organization.

Solar grew by 14.3%, compared to the same period in 2022 – more than any other energy source. This was driven in large part by growth in “estimated” small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar PV, whose output increased by 19.8% and accounted for nearly a third (30.8%) of total solar production, SUN DAY Campaign said. For the nine-month period, solar was 5.8% of total U.S. electrical generation. A year earlier, solar’s share was 5.0%

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, November 2023

A large source of CO2 emissions in the United States is fossil fuel-fired power generation. Natural gas has become the largest source of electricity in the United States because it is a relatively low-cost fuel. Natural gas emissions also result from its consumption in the residential and commercial sectors for space heating and in the industrial sector for manufacturing processes. The EIA estimates that U.S. CO2 emissions from natural gas will grow by 1% in 2023 and remain relatively flat in 2024.

The forecast reduction in CO2 emissions is largely due to lower power generation from coal-fired power plants, the EIA said, which it expects to contribute to an 18% decline in coal-related CO2 emissions in 2023 and a 5% decline in 2024. The electric power sector has been retiring significant coal-fired generating capacity in response to economic competition from natural gas and new renewable generating capacity.

The electric power sector has shifted in recent years toward renewable energy sources. Much of the recent increase in renewable generation is the result of an expected 60 gigawatts of new solar generating capacity entering service during 2023 and 2024. We expect that the solar capacity increase, in addition to our forecast of increased hydropower generation and modest gains in new wind capacity, will reduce both coal-fired and natural gas-fired power generation next year.

Originally published in Power Engineering.