Clean Power Quarterly Market Report | Q3 2023

Record Third Quarter for US Clean Energy Installations

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) released its Clean Power Quarterly Market Report | Q3 2023, showing that the industry brought online 5,551 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale clean power capacity in the third quarter of 2023, enough to power 813,000 American homes. Third quarter installations increased by 13% over the same period in 2022 and set a record for the strongest third quarter on record. Across the country, clean energy developers began commercial operations at 88 projects across 24 states.  

 Key Highlights | Q3 2023 

• Installations: Developers began commercial operations at 88 projects across 24 states in Q3. The industry installed 5,551 MW of utility-scale clean energy in Q3, representing enough power for 813,000 American homes. 
• Pipeline: Solar continues to dominate the project pipeline, accounting for 58% of clean power capacity currently under development. Battery storage and land-based wind each represented 15% of the pipeline, with offshore wind making up 12%. 
• Sector Snapshot: Overall, solar led the quarter with 3,121 MW of installations, with battery and land-based wind following at 2,142 MW and 288 MW, respectively. 
• Delays: Since the end of 2021, over 56 GW of clean power capacity has been delayed. This includes 16,639 MW of projects that were expected to come online during the first three quarters of 2023.
  • Accounting for 67% of all delays, solar projects appear to be most impacted.  
  • On average, projects are delayed by 14 months. 

• Power Purchase Agreements: Through Q3 of 2023, solar comprised 59% of all PPA announcements while land-based wind represented 32%. 
• Compared to Q3 of 2022, solar PPA announcements for this quarter decreased by 59%, wind by 21%, and battery storage by 55%. 
• Progress to Date: Across the U.S., cumulative operating clean power capacity now stands at over 243 GW, accounting for 16% of total electricity generation.  
  • California, a leader in clean energy, accounted for 1,900 MW (34% of clean power commissioned in Q3), while Texas and Arizona took the second and third spots, with 949 MW and 516 MW respectively.  
  • Cumulatively in 2023, California leads the nation with 3,031 MW installed, followed by Texas, which added 2,381 MW to the grid and Florida, which added 1,578 MW. 

Read the Report

• Full Report: The 63-page report is available to ACP Members only at the link above.
• Public Report: The free public version of the report, which provides a summary of key takeaways and graphics from the full report, is available for download below.
• Appendices: Interested in the data behind the report? Members can download the appendices here and check out the underlying data in spreadsheet form here.
• Press Release: Read our press release for more.