Renewable energy consumption in the U.S. increased by 2 percent to a record 8.2 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2023, largely due to the increase in biofuel use in transportation and solar energy to generate electricity.
In 2023, total energy consumption in the U.S. saw a 1 percent decline to 94 quads compared to 2022.
Zero-carbon energy sources rise
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently revealed that, in 2023, U.S. wind consumption decreased for the first time in 25 years. However, nuclear energy consumption rose to 8.1 quads in 2023, largely due to the new Vogtle Unit 3 reactor in Georgia, which began operation in July 2023.
Electricity generation from zero-carbon sources such as wind and solar has increased rapidly in recent years. In 2022, U.S. energy consumption from renewable sources surpassed that from nuclear for the first time since 1984. U.S. nuclear energy consumption commenced in the late 1950s and has remained fairly constant since the early 2000s.
Petroleum remains main energy source
Fossil fuels, petroleum, natural gas and coal accounted for nearly 83 percent of total U.S. energy consumption in 2023. Meanwhile, non-fossil fuel energy, from renewable or nuclear sources, accounted for the other 17 percent. In 2023, petroleum remained the most-consumed fuel in the U.S., as it has been for the past 73 years. Meanwhile, renewable energy consumption in the U.S. exceeded coal for the first time in about 140 years.
Coal consumption declined to 8.2 quads in 2023, the least since around 1900. U.S. coal consumption has decreased by more than half since its peak in 2005, largely because of less coal use for electricity generation.
Petroleum consumption in the U.S. remained below its 2005 peak, totaling 35.4 quads in 2023. The transportation sector was the main driver behind petroleum energy consumption. Although the use of electric vehicles in the U.S. has increased, petroleum remains the predominant fuel for cars, trucks, and planes.
Meanwhile, U.S. natural gas consumption reached a record 33.6 quads in 2023, largely due to electricity generation. Notably, more natural gas has been consumed in the U.S. electric power sector than in any other economic sector every year since 2018.
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