Renewables in America are seeing significant growth. They will be responsible approximately 19.8 per cent of total electricity generation in 2020. Wind and solar energy will make up the majority of this increase. A significant increase in non-hydrorenewables is also evident. During the last decade, it has grown from one percent to over 12.5 percent. Renewable fuels in transportation are also on the rise.
The United States uses less than 4% energy from solar and wind sources.
Renewable energy sources, like wind and solar are on the rise in America. They currently account for 19 percent of total electricity production in the country, and are expected to reach nearly 35 percent by 2030. Although solar power and wind power are very small, their popularity has grown quickly in the last decade. Wind power has overtaken hydropower to become the top renewable source. Around eight percent of America's electricity will come from wind energy by 2020.
Solar energy is easily harnessed as a source of low-temperature heat, a process known as solar photovoltaics. This energy is commonly used to heat water in domestic homes. It is also used in sensible building design and is increasingly being used for large-scale industrial production. Australia's annual solar salt production amounts to almost 1000 PJ, or about two-thirds, of its oil use. Utility-scale plants are also using solar energy more frequently.
The world's largest source for electricity is coal
Over 34% of all electricity comes from coal, making it the world's largest source. It's also the cheapest source of energy. However, its low cost means that coal contributes significantly to CO2 emissions.
The use of coal is not new. It has been around for many centuries. In the Roman Empire, coal was used to heat public baths. It was found to be cheaper than wood and produce more energy. It was used to power steamships and produce electricity. Most coal was mined in northern England in the early 18th century, when the industrial revolution was in full swing.
Solar power has tripled since 2008
The recent boom in solar power production has been attributed to government tax breaks and financial support. The fastest growth in installations over the past five years was 102 percent between 2009-2010. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SIA), the U.S.'s photovoltaic capacities tripled in three years from approximately 2GW to almost 6GW in just three years. In 2006, the state of Florida offered a four-per-watt rebate, which could reach up to $20,000 per residential solar system. Due to rapidly declining prices, this incentive was removed in 2010.
The strong federal policy and rapidly decreasing hardware costs have benefited the solar sector. There has also been an increase in demand for clean energy. The solar industry will generate enough electricity by 2020 to power approximately 23.3 million homes. It's not likely to be able meet all America’s electricity needs.
Biofuels are cheapest
Biofuels can be used to help reduce greenhouse gases emissions. The United States has seen a rise in biofuel production since the 1980s. Programs and policies by the government encourage its production. The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit, which was established by the government in 2005, has been a major driver of its production. This program resulted in large increases in the use of ethanol. Blenders of biodiesel or renewable diesel fuel received a tax credit of $1.00 per gallon in 2011.
Because petroleum prices have increased, biofuel production has become more lucrative. Soybean biodiesel prices in the United States are $0.55 per liter (compared to $0.46 for diesel). Biofuel production can be profitable thanks to the large subsidies offered by the federal governments. The government provides $0.20 EEL for ethanol and $0.29 for biodiesel. Federal crop subsidies are also available to producers of biofuels.
Hospitals are one of the largest energy users in the world.
Hospitals use large amounts of energy to run their systems. The energy utilization index (EUI) measures the hospital's energy consumption. A typical hospital consumes 235 EUI, while 53 is required for office buildings. HVAC systems are responsible for almost half of that energy. Another major energy user in hospitals is cooking for patients and using computers and medical equipment.
Hospital energy use is a concern for many reasons. Not only is it a financial concern but energy consumption can also be an environmental problem. In the United States, approximately 50% of energy used by hospitals was from commercial buildings.