US monthly coal-fired power generation declines to new low of 56.1 TWh in February: EIA

Houston — US coal-fired power generation totaled 56.1 TWh in February, down 14% from Monday, US Energy Information Administration data showed Friday.

From the year-ago month, generation was down 29.9%. Additionally, February was the first time monthly coal-fired generation dropped below 60 TWh, and it was the lowest level since S&P Global Platts data began in 2011.

From the five-year average of about 93.7 TWh produced in February, generation was at a 40.2% deficit this year.

Out of total power generation, coal took a 17.7% share, down 1.5 percentage points from January. It was also the lowest monthly share, according to available data.

Coal capacity averaged 36.4% in February, down from 39.1% in January and the lowest since April 2019.

Natural gas contributed 126 TWh in February, down 5.2% the month before and up 14.1% from the year-ago month.

Gas also took a 39.8% share of power generation, up slightly from 39.2% in January and the highest share since October 2019.

From the five-year average of about 95.8 TWh in February, gas was up 31.6%.

The capacity factor for gas plants was 58.8%, compared with 58.5% in January and 57.9% in the year-ago month.

Total renewable generation, including hydro, was 65.7 TWh, up 3.6% from January and up 19.4% year on year.

Renewables produced 12.9% of total generation in February, up from 11.5% January and the highest since April 2019.

Hydro produced 25.1 TWh in February, up 3.3% month on month and up 13.8% from the year-ago month. Utility solar produced 5.7 TWh, up 24.1% from the previous month and up 44.4% from the year-ago month. Wind produced 29.2 TWh, up 2.9% from January and up 26.8% from the year-ago month.

While hydro took 7.9% of generation, solar made up 1.8% and wind made 9.2%.

Capacity factors for renewables in February were 40.3% for wind, up month on month from 36.7%, 21.2% for solar, up from 16.3%, and 45.2% for hydro, up from 40.9%.