Renewable Energy
Currently, our energy system is dependent on foreign oil which is subject to price volatility, increasingly unreliable, and produces 25% of the world's carbon emissions.
Why would we want to continue to use a system like this when we could use a sustainable energy system where we would have carbon neutrality, efficiency, and diverse supply options? Other benefits include a sustainable impact on resources and the creation of high value jobs.
A transformation such as this would require new approaches in the development of a carbon neutral electricity system.
Currently, our electricity system is greater than 70% dependent on fossil fuels.
According to EIA Electricity Monthly (March 2009), the primary fuel sources used to produce electricity are coal (48.
5%), natural gas (21.
3%), nuclear (19.
7%), hydroelectric conventional (6.
1%), other renewable sources (3.
3%), and petroleum (1.
1%).
Right now, solar power represents the most significant resource.
It has a 206,000 gigawatt (GW) potential for photovoltaic and a 11,000 GW potential for concentrating solar power.
Using wind, you are looking at 8,000 GW potential (on shore) and 2,200 GW (off shore).
Geothermal follows at 39 GW from convention sources and 520 GW from enhanced geothermal systems and 4 GW from coproduced sources.
As you can see from these numbers, the US renewable energy resources are more than capable for meeting a large portion of our electricity system needs.
However, renewable power has been contributing more and more to the energy grid.
In 2008, renewable energy comprised 45% of new capacity versus only 10% in 2005 according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The states have taken the lead in using renewable energy for electricity production.
29 states have adopted RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standards).
A RPS is a state policy that requires electricity providers to obtain a minimum percentage of their power from renewable energy resources.
Right now, wind is the primary electricity resource.
However, to insure that some of the projects incorporate things like solar power, they have established minimum solar power requirements.
A Federal RPS policy is also being considered.
Why is a RPS so important? The states collectively account for more than half of the electricity sales in the US! The Global Environment Fund estimates that the current state RPS would ultimately result in the installation of over 75,000 MW of renewable power.
The ability to use renewable energy resources exists today and will provide a significant portion of the energy grid come 2050.
2050 is the timeframe that the US must have an optimal portfolio of coal, nuclear, and renewable power to meet the electricity needs of the nation.
It isn't an either or situation anymore.
All sources of energy will need to be used to meet our ever growing need.
As shown by the states' RPS, if you offer financial incentives (such as federal tax credits, the ability to see excess power, etc.
), they will come.
The question now that should be asked is: what will be the role of renewable energy be in the future?
Why would we want to continue to use a system like this when we could use a sustainable energy system where we would have carbon neutrality, efficiency, and diverse supply options? Other benefits include a sustainable impact on resources and the creation of high value jobs.
A transformation such as this would require new approaches in the development of a carbon neutral electricity system.
Currently, our electricity system is greater than 70% dependent on fossil fuels.
According to EIA Electricity Monthly (March 2009), the primary fuel sources used to produce electricity are coal (48.
5%), natural gas (21.
3%), nuclear (19.
7%), hydroelectric conventional (6.
1%), other renewable sources (3.
3%), and petroleum (1.
1%).
Right now, solar power represents the most significant resource.
It has a 206,000 gigawatt (GW) potential for photovoltaic and a 11,000 GW potential for concentrating solar power.
Using wind, you are looking at 8,000 GW potential (on shore) and 2,200 GW (off shore).
Geothermal follows at 39 GW from convention sources and 520 GW from enhanced geothermal systems and 4 GW from coproduced sources.
As you can see from these numbers, the US renewable energy resources are more than capable for meeting a large portion of our electricity system needs.
However, renewable power has been contributing more and more to the energy grid.
In 2008, renewable energy comprised 45% of new capacity versus only 10% in 2005 according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The states have taken the lead in using renewable energy for electricity production.
29 states have adopted RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standards).
A RPS is a state policy that requires electricity providers to obtain a minimum percentage of their power from renewable energy resources.
Right now, wind is the primary electricity resource.
However, to insure that some of the projects incorporate things like solar power, they have established minimum solar power requirements.
A Federal RPS policy is also being considered.
Why is a RPS so important? The states collectively account for more than half of the electricity sales in the US! The Global Environment Fund estimates that the current state RPS would ultimately result in the installation of over 75,000 MW of renewable power.
The ability to use renewable energy resources exists today and will provide a significant portion of the energy grid come 2050.
2050 is the timeframe that the US must have an optimal portfolio of coal, nuclear, and renewable power to meet the electricity needs of the nation.
It isn't an either or situation anymore.
All sources of energy will need to be used to meet our ever growing need.
As shown by the states' RPS, if you offer financial incentives (such as federal tax credits, the ability to see excess power, etc.
), they will come.
The question now that should be asked is: what will be the role of renewable energy be in the future?
Source...