Florida's electricity mix has changed significantly over the past 20 years, with the share of natural gas increasing at the expense of oil and coal.
In 2022, the share of natural gas in the electricity generation mix in the US state increased to 75%, compared to 31% in 2002, according to a report issued by the US Energy Information Administration, Thursday (August 24, 2023).
The share of gas in Florida's electricity mix increased with the installation of 26.8 gigawatts of capacity operating on this fuel, which is less polluting than coal and oil, according to the report, which was seen by the Energy Research Unit.
The increase in US gas production and the expansion of the pipeline network in the southwest of the United States helped to build new gas-fired plants with low-price fuel.
Close coal and oil stations
The increased capacity of natural gas-fired power plants in Florida came as their older, less efficient coal-fired counterparts were shut down.
Since 2002, Florida's power generation capacity has shut down 4.2 gigawatts of coal, representing a 48% reduction in the capacity to burn this most polluting fuel.
As a result, coal's share of Florida's electricity mix fell to 6% in 2022, from 33% in 2002, according to figures from the Energy Research Unit.
On the other hand, oil accounted for 17% of the electricity generated in the US state in 2002, before its share decreased to only 1% in 2022, with the closure of 80% (6.5 gigawatts) of the operating capacity during the same period.
Solar Growth in Florida
In addition to the upsurge in natural gas generation, an increase in solar power capacity in Florida, at 5.9 GW, will change the generation mix by the end of 2022.
The share of solar energy in the electricity mix in Florida, USA, reached 4% in 2022, with significant growth since the start of work on the first utility-scale solar projects in the state in 2009.
In contrast to the dramatic changes in generation sources, nuclear power will continue to generate about 13 percent of all Florida's electricity through 2022.
Installed capacity forecasts through 2026
The US Energy Information Administration expects that planned generation capacity additions and shutdowns between 2023 and 2026 will continue to change Florida's electricity mix.
The state's grid developers have so far announced plans to install 1.8 gigawatts of natural gas over the next three years.
It is also planned to add 5.5 gigawatts of solar power capacity to the electric grid, bringing the total to 11.6 gigawatts by 2026.
In contrast, it is planned to shut down 1 gigawatt of capacity from coal-fired power plants in Florida, bringing the total operating capacity to only 3.5 gigawatts.
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