According to the EIA, electric generation from wind turbines has decreased for the first time since the mid-1990s in 2023, despite the addition of 6.2 GW of wind capacity. This has resulted in an eight-year low-capacity factor for the wind turbine fleet of 33.5%.
Several factors have contributed to this decline, including the wind market reaching maturity and the impact of unfavorable weather conditions. 2023 wind speeds were slower than normal due to El Niño, a climate pattern that weakens trade winds. These slower winds speeds had a dramatic effect as wind generation was down 14% during the first half of 2023. However, later in the year, wind speeds increased, and generation from August through December was 2.4% higher compared to the last five months of 2022.
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Wind generation declined in 2023 for the first time since the 1990s
US wind generation fell in 2023 for the first time since the 1990s
