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Capacity Resource Trends
period, with two 1,100 MW nuclear plant additions in 2021 and 2022. Hydro capacity resources are projected to remain essentially unchanged through the forecast period at approximately 7% of the Regional total. Existing solar (photovoltaic) capacity resources in the SERC Region are reported at 5,587 MW, but planned solar additions of around 6,000 MW are projected through 2025. For the period 2020-2029, solar capacity is projected to grow steeply from 1.8 percent to almost 4 percent of the overall resource mix. Biomass, wind, and other resources in the Region are small and do not contribute significantly to the SERC capacity totals or resource mix.
Capacity resources in the SERC Region for 2020 total 308,310 MW. Net capacity resources in the Region are expected to increase for the first 5 years of the 2021- 2029 planning horizon to 317,331 MW. Net capacity resources are projected to gradually increase over the planning horizon with many coal-fired capacity retirements being offset by the additions of natural gas fired generation and variable energy generation. Capacity resources in the planning horizon are projected to increase, reaching 320,305 MW in 2029. Natural gas is the primary fuel source in the SERC Region, followed by coal, nuclear, pumped storage, and other types (which include oil-fired, solar, biomass, wind, and other). For the period 2020- 2029, coal-fired capacity is projected to decrease from 24 percent to 22 percent. SERC members have announced approximately 1,233 MW of large-scale coal-fired capacity retirements through the near-term planning horizon. Nuclear powered resources supply 13 percent of the SERC capacity in 2020. Nuclear is projected to increase slightly to 15 percent through the assessment
Figure 2: Capacity Resource Trends
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