Southern Power blasted onto the list of the top US wind owners for the first time in 2016 thanks to its recent renewables acquisition spree, while longstanding market number one NextEra Energy further widened its lead, according to new data from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

Southern Power, the unregulated generation arm of Atlanta-based utility holding company Southern Company, has drawn attention in the past year for its newfound enthusiasm for renewables – signing big acquisitions and development deals with heavyweight developers like RES, Invenergy, Apex Clean Energy, EDF and Canadian Solar.