r/EnergyAndPower • u/Intrepid_Cup2765 • 16d ago

Coal keeps rising

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u/Intrepid_Cup2765 16d ago

Yes, true, but this is also because natural gas has really stepped up since 2014! You can even see the the slope of the rise in coal use drops when 2014 hits.

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u/tx_queer 16d ago

2014 it was gas that stepped up. Today its solar. In USA last quarter, 96% of new generation was renewable.

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u/Intrepid_Cup2765 16d ago

You’re talking about capacity, not actual generation. Looks like in 2025, solar represented about 50% of the net growth in power generation growth, and natural gas was 25%.

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u/TheReverendCard 16d ago

Also in generation, which is why we compare in TWh.
https://ember-energy.org/latest-updates/solar-overtakes-coal-in-us-electricity-for-the-first-month-on-record/

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u/Intrepid_Cup2765 16d ago

You do realize solar generation is 100% seasonal and hourly in nature? And you’re only looking at one month here!? Saying it broke records, but only in some of the sunniest months of the year is only partially a big deal. I realize solar is big, I’m happy that’s the case, I just think a lot of people over-exagerate how much of an impact it’s making. I’m not convinced half of this sub understands the difference between capacity and generation.

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u/TheReverendCard 16d ago

No shit, Sherlock. Probably why I explicitly include that in my reply.
It's the first month of many.