For the first time on record, solar power produced more electricity in the US than coal. Official April data from the Energy Information Administration confirms it — though with a catch.
Coal generated about 40 terawatt-hours in April. Utility-scale solar produced 31, and small-scale rooftop installations added another 9.8. Combined, that puts solar narrowly ahead. But here is the caveat: a big chunk of that rooftop solar never actually reaches the grid. It gets consumed where it is generated, in homes and businesses.
Even so, the trend is clear. One year ago in April, coal provided 14 percent of grid power and solar sat at 8.3 percent. This year? Coal dropped to 12 percent, solar climbed to 9.4 percent. The gap is closing fast.
Coal has been declining despite repeated government attempts to prop it up. Solar, meanwhile, keeps growing because it is the cheapest way to add generating capacity in most of the country. Growth above 20 percent year over year from a small base still only gets solar to 6 percent of total grid power, though — there is a long way to go.
Looking at the bigger picture: renewables overall (solar, wind, and hydro combined) produced 117 TWh in April. Coal managed 40. Natural gas led at 124. We are probably still a few years from solar staying ahead of coal for an entire calendar year, but summer should cement the lead. Longer days plus steady installations mean solar will likely outpace coal for the rest of the season.
