Wind power generation in the US fell last year, for the first time in more than 20 years

Wind farms in the United States had a very weak 2023, with generation falling year on year despite another increase in installed capacity. According to a government agency, this was the first time this had happened since the mid-1990s. The year-on-year decline was also partly due to a strong 2022, which saw above-average wind speeds in the US.

Renewable energy sources have seen strong growth in recent years and decades, particularly wind and solar power. However, increasing installed capacity does not necessarily mean that generation will also rise, as data from the United States for last year show.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), wind farms in the US saw a year-on-year drop in generation last year. Meanwhile, the year-on-year increase in installed capacity was comparable to that of previous years.

According to the agency’s data, wind farms in the US generated 425,3 TWh of electricity last year, compared with 434,3 TWh in 2022. This was the first year-on-year decline since around the mid-1990s. Installed wind capacity in the country grew by 6,2 GW last year. Since 2010, installed wind capacity in the US has more than tripled to 147,5 GW, according to the EIA.

Above-average 2022 followed by a weaker year

According to the agency, last year’s decline may indicate that the sector is slowly maturing after years of strong growth. Weaker wind conditions contributed to lower generation last year, especially in the first half of the year. During that period, wind power generation fell by 14% compared with the first half of 2022, according to the EIA. Although winds were stronger in the second half of the year than in 2022, they were not strong enough to make up such a large difference. Overall, 2022 saw above-average wind speeds in the US.

However, year-on-year changes in generation varied by region. For example, Texas, which accounts for more than a quarter of all installed wind capacity in the US, saw an increase year on year. In the northern parts of the country, however, the decline was greater, contributing to the overall year-on-year drop mentioned above.