Goldman Sachs(US:GS) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-11-02 08:57Core Insights - The U.S. energy sector is undergoing significant transformation driven by AI-induced electricity demand, with a surge in renewable energy projects in the short term and remarkable growth in natural gas and storage planning in the long term, constrained by labor shortages [1][4] Group 1: Current Energy Capacity Expansion - As of September 2025, the U.S. is expected to add approximately 32 GW of new power generation capacity, primarily from 19 GW of solar and 11 GW of battery storage, achieving 54% of Goldman Sachs' annual forecast [1][2] - Over 90% of the new capacity added in the first nine months of the year comes from solar and battery storage, indicating strong growth momentum [2] - However, project delays are a significant challenge, with 36.5% of planned solar projects and 38.6% of planned wind projects facing delays of over six months, compared to only 11.2% for natural gas projects [2] Group 2: Long-term Planning Trends - Future electricity project timelines show a clear shift, with most renewable energy projects expected to come online between 2026 and 2027, while a sharp decline in renewable project reserves is anticipated post-2028 [3] - Approximately 65% of planned natural gas projects are expected to be operational between 2028 and 2030, with 2028 alone projected to account for 103% of Goldman Sachs' forecast for new natural gas capacity that year [3] - Storage project planning capacity has also reached 67 GW, growing in parallel with natural gas projects [3] Group 3: Labor Shortages as a Key Constraint - Labor shortages are identified as a critical constraint to achieving electricity growth targets, with over 500,000 additional jobs needed in the electricity and grid sectors by 2030 [4] - The aging workforce is a concern, with 30% of electricians nearing retirement, and it takes 3-5 years to train a skilled technician [4] - Worker shortages are reported as the second-largest reason for project delays, following government approval delays, potentially impacting project execution and increasing labor costs [4]