Though the ongoing pandemic affects projects in all stages, projects in the construction stage are more likely to be delayed. Sixty-one unique projects, with a total of 2.4 GW of generating capacity, under construction during March and April were delayed, analysts at the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) pointed out.
Building a power plant normally requires a string of simultaneous and dependent works as the final plant consists of numerous key components and related equipment. This was not possible during the coronavirus crisis, as workers were advised to follow social distancing rules while operating.
Supply chain disruptions, permitting delays, and restricted travel of specialized workers, affected project scheduling and often led to project delays.
According to the EIA’s March and April Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory data, lockdowns in most countries have severely impacted global supply chains which substantially increased the volumes of delayed U.S. power plant projects from normally 20% to nearly 30% in April.
In March, a total of 163 of the 772 proposed generating units delayed their operational date, with 41 citing the coronavirus crisis as a reason for delay. Of the 746 generating units reporting in April, 220 were delayed and 67 of these reported Covid-19 as a reason.
The delays attributed to mitigation measures during these two months represent 3.1 GW of total U.S. generating capacity, or 18% of total delayed capacity. The median delay was two months, EIA data shows.