this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2025
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U.S. solar will pass wind in 2025 and leave coal in the dust soon after (pv-magazine-usa.com)
submitted 21 hours ago by spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.world
86 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Based on current deployment rates, it is likely that solar will surpass wind as the third-largest source of electricity. And solar may soon topple coal in the number two spot.

Looking ahead, through July 2028, FERC expects no new coal capacity to come online based on its “high probability additions” forecast. Meanwhile 63 coal plants are expected to be retired, subtracting 25 GW from the 198 GW total, and landing at about 173 GW of coal capacity by 2028. Meanwhile, FERC forecasts 92.6 GW of “high probability additions” solar will come online through July 2028.

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 9 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

You're really discounting that fossil fuels have hella bang for the buck, loads of power per gallon. tl;dr: Energy dense

I can run my little generator at camp all night long if there's as little as 3 gallons in there. Space heater or AC unit, lights, all that. I'd have to have many panels and batteries to compare to that output. My best battery is a huge LIPO4, trolling motor can't kill it, not even close. But leaving the LED lights on for a little over a day drained it dry.

We need way more solar infrastructure to get where we're going, and I'm all about it. But since since the GOP has decided to go back in time, China is going to smoke America, both in renewables and the associated economic benefits.

Did not know about the patent thing! Know any examples?

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

You’re really discounting that fossil fuels have hella bang for the buck, loads of power per gallon. tl;dr: Energy dense

Coal is generally the worst of the lot. Oil and gas burn cleaner and have more combustible by weight. Coal is energy dense but also heavy af and dirty as hell. It's also very common place and comparably safe to transport. And it is simpler to use.

Fine enough to warm your home or grill some meat. But you're not putting a rocket into orbit with coal.

My best battery is a huge LIPO4, trolling motor can’t kill it, not even close. But leaving the LED lights on for a little over a day drained it dry.

Sure. Broadly speaking you want to be hooked up to the grid to benefit from electricity. Anything portable is very ineffective for a litany of reasons.

[–] FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au 0 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

But you’re not putting a rocket into orbit with coal

And you’re definitely not with wind and solar lol.

Coal is cheap, abundant in supply, and easy.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

Coal cheap? Incorrect.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

Coal is cheap

Not anymore. Hasn't been cheap in decades