U.S. coal generation hit a 47-year low in April

U.
S.
coal generation was 60.
1 terawatt hours in April, down 23.
4 percent from March and 18.
1 percent
from a year earlier, according to the U.
S.
Energy Information Administration EIA.

Notably, this was the lowest month for U.
S.
coal power in the past 47 years, including a lower record of 62.
87 TWh produced by coal in April 1974
.

Total U.
S.
electricity generation was a two-year low of 295.
12 terawatt hours in April, down 8.
7 percent from the previous month and down 2.
2 percent
from a year earlier.
That's the seventh lowest monthly electricity generation in the last 15 years
.

Due to mild weather and electricity demand, electricity generation is usually lower
in April.
Coal accounted for only 20.
4% of electricity generation in April, compared to 34.
9% of natural gas generation, compared with 24.
3% of US coal and 34.
8%
of natural gas generation in March.
In the same period last year, coal's share of electricity generation was 24.
3%, while natural gas was 33%.

Natural gas power generation was a 12-month low of 102.
94 TWh in April, down 8.
6% from the previous month but 3.
5%
higher than the same period last year.
Nuclear power generation was 60.
58 TWh in April, down 6.
9% from March but up 2.
4%
from a year earlier.
This is the second largest electricity generated by nuclear power in April since 1973, behind 6.
273 billion kWh
in April 2016.
Nuclear accounted for 20.
5% of electricity generation in April, up from 20.
1% in March and 19.
6%
in April 2018.

。

Renewable energy generation, including hydro and solar, reached a record 68.
48 TWh in April, up 7.
2% from March and 2.
7%
from a year earlier.

The share of electricity generation from renewables was 23.
2%, up from 18.
8% in March and 22.
1%
a year ago.
This is the first time in a month that renewable energy generation has surpassed coal
.

Wind power reached a record high of 30.
22 TWh in April, up 16.
1% year-on-year and 12.
9%
from a year earlier.
April is typically the windiest month of the year, producing an average of 23.
34 TWh
per month since 2014.

Total solar power, including solar PV and solar thermal, was 6.
95 terawatt hours, up 15.
4% from a month ago and 11.
1%
from the same period last year.

Wind and solar accounted for 10.
2% and 2.
4% of total electricity generation in April, up from 8.
1% and 1.
9% in March and 2.
1% and 8.
9%
in the same period last year.