The American Clean Power Association (ACP) released the Clean Power Quarterly Market Report | Q2 2023, showing that the industry installed 5,218 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar, wind, and storage capacity in the second quarter, representing enough clean generation to power nearly 1 million American homes and making Q2 2023 the second-highest second quarter for clean power installations.

The report also finds a significant 13% increase in clean power projects under construction or in advanced development compared to the same time last year.

Installed Clean Power Capacity through Q2, Annual.  Source: Clean Power Quarterly Market Report | Q2 2023

According to John Hensley, VP of Research and Analytics, "clean power installations returned to growth, with the clean energy industry logging its second-best second quarter as America forges ahead toward a clean power future. Despite persistent headwinds from regulatory, trade, and supply chain pressures, clean power project additions rebounded as developers managed through delays and worked to keep projects on schedule. To help maintain this momentum, especially as the clean power pipeline grows, we continue to urge policy makers to find bipartisan solutions to address the supply chain and federal permitting challenges obstructing America’s full job-creating clean energy potential."

Throughout the second quarter of 2023, report shows that clean energy developers commissioned 105 clean power projects across 38 states. Solar accounted for over 50% of clean power capacity installed, with storage accounting for nearly 30%. The increase in battery storage installations from the second quarter of 2022 was notable – the segment experienced 32% growth. 

Better than last year

Compared to the same time last year, the ACP explains that projects in the solar pipeline increased 16%, with solar now accounting for 59% of America’s entire clean power project pipeline. The battery storage project pipeline grew an astonishing 45%, now composing 15% of all clean power projects currently under development. Meanwhile, the wind power pipeline increased 8% quarter-over-quarter, showing its first positive change since the third quarter of 2021. 

However, in spite of the growing numbers, the report points out that project delays continue to mount with developers reporting 12 GW of new delays in the second quarter. By the end of the second quarter of 2023, accumulated project delays totaled 55 GW. On average these projects have been delayed 13 months as component procurement challenges, trade frictions, higher costs, regulatory delays, and other challenges have held up projects. Despite these delays, more than half of that capacity is expected to be online by the end of the year.