The United States is poised for a significant boost in renewable energy capacity by over 67 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, driven by policy shifts and economic factors, per S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis. Solar energy, in particular, is set to lead the charge, with over 56 GW of capacity expected to come online.
This surge reflects a broader trend toward cleaner energy sources and marks a pivotal moment in America’s energy transition. Additionally, around 11 GW of wind generation and 21 GW of energy storage are projected to come online.
Solar Dominance in America’s Energy Landscape
While natural gas has been considered a transitional fuel, the analysis indicates a net gain of only 394 megawatts (MW) of natural gas capacity in 2024. This is overshadowed by planned retirements, with 4,028 MW of natural gas expected to be retired.

The only new nuclear capacity addition is the 1,114-MW unit 4 at the Vogtle Nuclear Plant in Georgia.
But the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasted that nuclear power will reach an all-time high in 2025. Industry experts also believe that nuclear will start to soar this year.
US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently stated that wind and solar energy could surpass coal generation for the first time in US history. The trend towards cleaner energy sources will continue, to achieve 80% clean energy on the path to 100% clean electricity by 2035.
In 2024, around 5 GW of fossil-fired capacity will retire, which is less than half of the previous year’s total. Of this, around 3,634 MW of gas-fired capacity and 1,035 MW of coal-fired resources will shut down.

However, the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition are evident, particularly in grid operator PJM Interconnection LLC.
PJM has seen a surge in renewables, prompting concerns about reliability risks. Solar energy has surpassed natural gas in new service requests, indicating a shift in the energy landscape.
Cargill’s Sustainable Power Partnership
Solar energy is taking the lead in the energy landscape, with 56 GW of solar capacity this year. Within the PJM Interconnection region alone, around 9 GW of solar capacity is anticipated.
PJM plans for about 10 GW of new capacity additions in 2024, with minimal retirements of just 80 MW from wind generation.
Cargill Inc., a major player in the food industry, has expanded its renewable energy portfolio by contracting an additional 300 MW of wind and solar capacity. With this addition, Cargill’s offsite renewable energy portfolio now stands at 716 MW.
The company has entered into five power purchase agreements (PPAs) to bring online the new wind and solar capacity. However, the specific locations of these new generating resources were not disclose.
Still, once operational later this year, they can help Cargill reduce its carbon emissions by nearly 820,000 metric tons/year.
Cargill’s global renewable energy portfolio comprises 15 projects across 12 countries. These include virtual PPAs with:
- Ocean Breeze Energy GmbH & Co. KG for 35 MW from the Bard offshore wind farm in Germany,
- Galileo Green Energy GmbH for 55 MW from a solar project in Italy,
- Vattenfall AB for 78 MW from the Hanze Windpark project in the Netherlands,
- TC Energy Corp. subsidiary Blue Cloud Wind Energy LLC for 130 MW from a Texas wind farm, and
- A self-production contract for generation from a wind farm in Bahia, Brazil.
Regional Insights into Renewable Energy Expansion
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. (ERCOT) will also see over 27 GW of new resources added in 2024, including over 16 GW of solar capacity, according to S&P Global. Additionally, nearly 8 GW of energy storage, over 2 GW of wind resources, and 790 MW of natural gas generation are part of the planned capacity additions.
California ISO will also add over 12 GW of capacity, with 5 GW and 7 GW, from solar and energy storage, respectively. ISOs refer to independent system operators.
In the Midcontinent ISO (MISO) region, over 12 GW of capacity additions are projected. Meanwhile, the retirement in this region will be at 1,368 MW of fossil fuel generation.
ISO New England is forecast to add over 2 GW of capacity, offset by 1,692 MW of natural gas retirements. Meanwhile, the New York ISO region will add 2,044 MW of capacity in 2024.
Within the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) region, about 2 GW of renewable capacity additions are anticipated, along with 788 MW of natural gas additions.
Outside of formal ISO or RTO regions, approximately 25 GW of capacity additions and 2 GW of retirements are forecasted. This includes over 14 GW of solar projects, followed by over 4 GW of energy storage, 2 GW of wind, and 2 GW of gas.
As the US continues its transition towards a more sustainable energy future, the surge in renewable energy capacity in 2024 underscores the nation’s commitment to combating climate change and embracing clean energy solutions.
The post America to See a Surge in Renewable Capacity in 2024 appeared first on Carbon Credits.
Carbon Footprint
Reliance and Samsung C&T $3B Green Ammonia Deal Powers India’s Hydrogen Exports
The post Reliance and Samsung C&T $3B Green Ammonia Deal Powers India’s Hydrogen Exports appeared first on Carbon Credits.
Carbon Footprint
Who Will Drive the Next Wave of Carbon Credit Demand? Insights from AlliedOffsets
The voluntary carbon market (VCM) lets companies buy carbon credits to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. AlliedOffsets, a data and technology firm for carbon offsetting, tracks this market closely. Their database covers more than 36,000 projects, over 28,000 buyers, and billions of tons of carbon that have been issued or retired.
The VCM is growing fast. Over the last five years, most buyers have come from technology, telecommunications, and energy. Other sectors, like industrials, manufacturing, financial services, and aviation, also participate, though in smaller amounts.
The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan have the most buyers, showing that developed countries lead the market.
As the market grows, new companies and sectors are expected to join. AlliedOffsets studied over 130,000 companies to predict who will likely buy carbon credits next. This helps sellers, project developers, and policymakers focus their efforts where demand is likely.
LtB Model: Predicting the Next Wave of Credit Buyers
AlliedOffsets uses a model called Likelihood to Buy (LtB). It looks at companies active before and since 2024, and even those that have never bought credits publicly. The company stated:
“Ranking specific companies’ likelihoods and identifying patterns in their unifying traits informs market suppliers and intermediaries about who to pivot engagement towards. Understanding the features that play the greatest roles in determining companies’ likelihoods, meanwhile, is vital for highlighting wider drivers for the growth of the market, which serve as levers for policymakers and signals for companies themselves.”
The model includes data from 36 global registries, covering both non-anonymous purchases and retirements. It looks at several key factors that affect a company’s likelihood to buy, including:
- Abatement potential – how easy it is for the company to reduce emissions.
- Data center usage – companies with large data centers use more energy and may buy more credits.
- Headquarters country – companies in the US, UK, and China lead predicted purchases.
- Internal carbon pricing – companies with higher carbon costs buy more credits.
- Net-zero targets – companies with short-term or long-term climate goals are more likely to buy.
- Sector – aviation, energy, and tech tend to buy more due to rules and public pressure.
- Annual profit or loss – profitable firms are more able to purchase carbon credits.

The model also uses SHAP analysis to show which factors influence predicted buying the most. Companies that recently bought credits are weighted higher. Some sectors, like aviation, are manually marked as high-likelihood because of rules like CORSIA, which requires airlines to offset emissions.
AlliedOffsets also separates companies into new entrants and returning buyers, helping track demand trends.
Forecasted Carbon Credit Demand
AlliedOffsets predicts that new and returning buyers will need about 281 million credits per year. This comes from over 11,500 companies with characteristics similar to current buyers.
The demand by project type is expected to have this composition:

Demand for forestry projects is rising, partly because of forward contracts, which made up 55% of the 147 million credits negotiated in 2025.

By country, the greatest demand will come from the U.S., China, UK, France, Germany, and Brazil.

Aviation will be a big factor because airlines must offset emissions under CORSIA rules. Energy and technology companies in the US, like AT&T, IBM, and Ingram Micro, are likely to enter or re-enter the market.
Moreover, new entrants will expand the buyer base, per AlliedOffsets analysis. These include consumer goods, professional services, healthcare, and industrial firms. Many come from countries with fewer buyers so far, like Turkey and Belgium.
Financial Impact of Returning and New Buyers
AlliedOffsets estimates that new and returning buyers will spend around $2.27 billion per year. Sector contributions are expected as follows, with aviation and energy leading the pack:
- Aviation: over $800 million per year (about one-third of total).
- Energy and Technology & Telecommunications: substantial ongoing purchases, over $300 million a year.
- Consumer services, industrials, financial services, professional services: smaller but steady spend.

Returning buyers bought nearly 7 million credits in previous years. ExxonMobil accounted for 66% of these purchases through both forward contracts and OTC deals. Other companies, like ArcelorMittal, invest in low-emission technology, reducing the need to buy credits.
New entrants, especially airlines, will increase activity. Credits purchased for CORSIA compliance must match emissions for international flights to and from ICAO member states.
Overall, growth in both returning and new buyers shows that corporate demand for carbon credits is likely to rise sharply. Companies that belong to initiatives like RE100, SBTi, Race to Zero, or NZBA are more likely to participate in the voluntary carbon market.
A Turning Point and Future Forecasts: Supply, Demand, and Policy Drivers
In 2025, the voluntary carbon credit market saw big changes. Total retirements fell to about 168 million tonnes, and new issuances dropped to around 270 million tonnes, the lowest since 2020.
Despite this, spending rose to roughly $1.04 billion, up from $980 million in 2024. The average price per credit also climbed to about $6.10, showing that buyers are paying more for high-quality, trusted credits rather than just buying large amounts.

Companies are now choosing credits with strong monitoring and real climate impact. Nature-based projects, like afforestation and reforestation, did better than older REDD+ credits.
Forward contracts also grew, with over $12 billion signed in 2025, even though these will deliver only about 10 million credits a year through 2035. This shows that many companies want to secure the future supply of trusted credits. These trends match forecasts from AlliedOffsets, where demand is expected to rise for durable, high-quality carbon credits.
AlliedOffsets keeps expanding its database, now covering over 60,000 companies. Adding historical emissions data and checking with initiatives like the Forest Stewardship Council and Science Based Targets will improve forecasts.
Analysts expect supply limits may appear in forestry and land use projects as demand grows. Engineered removals, chemical processes, and industrial projects will also get more attention. Large investments by companies like Google and Amazon, which pledged $100 million to superpollutant removal projects by 2030, are expected to drive this.
Returning and new buyers, led by aviation, energy, and tech, will shape the next wave of demand. Understanding these patterns helps policymakers, intermediaries, and project developers plan supply and engagement strategies.
The voluntary carbon market is entering a new growth phase, driven by rules, climate commitments, and better forecasting tools. With models like Likelihood to Buy, market participants can plan ahead. Forestry, renewable energy, and industrial projects are likely to see the biggest benefits as corporate demand grows worldwide.
- READ MORE: The Carbon Credit Market in 2025 is A Turning Point: What Comes Next for 2026 and Beyond?
The post Who Will Drive the Next Wave of Carbon Credit Demand? Insights from AlliedOffsets appeared first on Carbon Credits.
Carbon Footprint
How carbon project developers quantify biodiversity and community impact
The verified carbon market is changing. Buyers are asking harder questions. A carbon credit’s value is increasingly defined not just by the carbon it represents, but by what the project delivers alongside it and by how rigorously those outcomes are measured.
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