US adds 6.1GW to pipeline in Q1

US project developers announced new wind projects amounting to 6.1GW in the first quarter of 2019, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

by Ros Davidson 30 April 2019

A total of 841MW of new capacity was added in Q1 2019, taking the US's total installed capacity to 97.2GW

The US’s pipeline of projects under construction and in advanced development is now a record-breaking 39.1GW, up 11% over the previous quarter, the report stated.

"With nearly 40GW in development, America’s largest source of renewable energy generating capacity is on a path to grow by 40% in the near term," said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA.

A total of 841MW of wind projects came online during the first quarter, elevating the country’s total installed capacity to 97.2GW.

The first quarter of 2019 saw the second strongest volume of power purchase agreements (PPAs) since AWEA began tracking procurement activity, with more than 2.7GW of wind PPAs signed.

In addition, utilities announced plans to build and own 1GW of wind in the first quarter.

For offshore, the report noted National Grid filed for the approval of a 20-year contract to buy 400MW from Ørsted’s Revolution project off Rhode Island at a fixed price of $98/MWh, the US’s second offshore wind PPA to come in below $100/MWh.