US electricity generation by source
US electricity comes from natural gas, nuclear, coal, wind, solar, hydro and other sources. Compare their latest reported output and shares in the EIA Lower 48 generation mix, then use monthly history to see how the mix changes over time.
US Lower 48 generation mix, settled
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US Lower 48 generation mix by month
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Separate operator generation readings
The following chart describes reporting North American markets, with its own coverage and source clocks.
Generation mix, markets reporting now
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Understanding US electricity generation by source
Which sources generate US electricity?
The fuel-mix chart groups reported net generation by source and shows each source’s output and share for the stated EIA hour. Natural gas, coal and nuclear appear alongside wind, solar, hydro and other sources. The monthly chart shows how those shares change across seasons and years.
Generation mix versus installed capacity
Generation measures the electricity produced during an interval. Capacity measures how much a facility can produce under specified conditions. A plant’s nameplate capacity and its output at a particular hour answer different questions, so the plant map and generation charts should be read together.
Renewable generation and the hourly mix
Wind, solar and hydro contribute to renewable electricity generation. Their hourly output varies with conditions and availability. Comparing one hour with the monthly fuel-share history helps distinguish a short-lived change from a longer shift in the supply mix.
Electricity generation versus total energy
This page describes electricity. Total US energy use also includes fuels consumed directly in transportation, buildings and industry. EIA Lower 48 observations and the separate North American operator mix each retain their own geography and reporting time.
Questions
What percentage of US electricity comes from each source?
Read the source percentages in the EIA Lower 48 fuel-mix chart for its labeled reporting hour. Monthly history provides the longer view; an hourly share is not an annual national statistic.
Is this the US energy mix?
It is the electricity generation mix. A total-energy mix also includes fuels used directly outside electricity generation, such as transportation fuels.
Is US electricity generation shown in real time?
The EIA chart uses the latest reported hour and can lag demand by several hours. The separate operator chart shows reporting markets on their own source clocks.
Does battery discharge count as generation?
Storage moves electricity between hours. The historical fuel-share chart excludes storage so that it describes generation sources rather than counting stored electricity as new production.