Record numbers posted for solar and wind power in New York

Collective hourly records for power generation are being set at solar and wind farms in New York as the state moves toward emissions-free electricity by 2040.

The majority of solar and wind farms are currently located upstate, where large plots of land remain available at reasonable prices for renewable energy projects. 

While offshore wind farms – which typically generate much more electricity than wind farms located onshore – have yet to commence operations in New York, several large-scale projects are in the works.

New York State requires about 15,000 megawatts (each megawatt of electricity can serve up to 1,000 homes) of power on a day when temperatures are in the mid-40s. During hot summer days, the requirement can nearly double. 

Last month, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) said that between 1 and 2 p.m. on March 9, the state’s wind farms generated 2,176 megawatts of electricity, serving 12 percent of the state’s total electrical load. The previous wind record was set in December at 2,134 megawatts.

In addition, the NYISO, which oversees the state’s high-voltage electrical grid, reported that the hourly record for solar was set between noon and 1 p.m. March 12, with 3,832 megawatts serving 21 percent of the load. That record was previously set in late February at 3,744 megawatts.

It’s likely that other records will be set in the coming months and years, based on the data, as more and more renewable projects come online.

Rich Dewey, president and CEO of NYISO, emphasized the significance of wind and solar contributions in advancing New York’s clean energy objectives.

“As load continues to rise across the system, additional generation and transmission will be essential to serve demand and maintain grid reliability,” Dewey said in a prepared statement.

For information, go to https://www.nyiso.com.