Renewable energy setting records
August 27, 2013 | By
Barbara Vergetis Lundin
Renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) provided 14.20 percent of the nation's net electric power generation during the first half of 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). For the same period in 2012, renewables accounted for 13.57 percent of net electrical generation.
Non-hydro renewables have more than tripled their output during the past decade and now account for almost the same share of electrical generation (6.71 percent) as conventional hydropower (7.49 percent). Ten years ago, non-hydro renewables provided only 2.05 percent of net U.S. electrical generation. Comparing the first six months of 2013 to the same period in 2012, solar thermal and PV combined have grown 94.4 percent. According to EIA, "these additions understate actual solar capacity gains. Unlike other energy sources, significant levels of solar capacity exist in smaller, non-utility-scale applications - e.g., rooftop solar photovoltaics." Wind increased 20.1 percent and geothermal grew by 1.0 percent comparing the first half of 2013 to that of 2012. Biomass declined by 0.5 percent while hydropower dropped by 2.6 percent. Among the non-hydro renewabes, wind is in the lead, accounting for 4.67 percent of net electrical generation, followed by biomass (1.42 percent), geothermal (0.43 percent), and solar (0.19 percent). "Every year for the past decade, non-hydro renewables have increased both their net electrical output as well as their percentage share of the nation's electricity mix," said Ken Bossong, executive director of the Sun Day Campaign. "Moreover, the annual rate of growth for solar and wind continues in the double digits, setting new records each year." For more: Sign up for our FREE newsletter for more news like this sent to your inbox! © 2013 FierceMarkets. All rights reserved. http://www.fierceenergy.com http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/renewable-energy-setting-records/2013-08-27 |