2021-06-17 12:30:00
U.S. RENEWABLES RECORD 12%
U.S. EIA - JUNE 16, 2021 - In 2020, consumption of renewable energy in the United States grew for the fifth year in a row, reaching a record high of 11.6 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), or 12% of total U.S. energy consumption. Renewable energy was the only source of U.S. energy consumption that increased in 2020 from 2019; fossil fuel and nuclear consumption declined. Our U.S. renewable energy consumption by source and sector chart shows how much renewable energy by source each sector consumes.
We convert sources of energy to common units of heat, called British thermal units (Btu), to compare different types of energy that are usually measured in units that are not directly comparable, such as gallons of biofuels compared with kilowatthours of wind energy.
We use a fossil fuel equivalence to calculate primary energy consumption of noncombustible renewables (wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal), which are not burned to generate electricity and therefore do not have an inherent Btu conversion rate. In this approach, we convert the noncombustible renewables from kilowatthours to Btu using the annual weighted-average Btu conversion rate for all fossil fuels burned to generate electricity in the United States during that year to estimate the amount of fossil energy replaced by these renewable sources.
We use the fossil fuel equivalency approach to report noncombustible renewables’ contribution to total primary energy, in part, because the resulting shares of primary energy are closer to the shares of generated electricity. This calculation also represents the energy that would have been consumed if the electricity from renewable sources had instead been generated by a mix of fossil fuels.
Wind energy, or electricity generated by wind-powered turbines, is almost exclusively consumed in the electric power sector. Wind energy accounted for about 26% of U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2020. Wind surpassed hydroelectricity in 2019 to become the single most-consumed source of renewable energy on an annual basis. In 2020, U.S. wind energy consumption grew 14% from 2019.
Hydroelectric power, or electricity generated by water-powered turbines, is almost exclusively consumed in the electric power sector. It accounted for about 22% of U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2020. U.S. hydropower consumption has remained relatively flat since the 1970s, but it fluctuates with seasonal rainfall and drought conditions.
Wood and waste energy, including wood, wood pellets, and biomass waste from landfills, accounted for about 22% of U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2020. Industrial, commercial, and electric power facilities use wood and waste as a fuel to generate electricity, produce heat, and manufacture goods.
Biofuels, including fuel ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuels, accounted for about 17% of U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2020. U.S. biofuel consumption fell 11% from 2019 as overall transportation sector energy use declined in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Solar energy accounted for about 11% of U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2020. Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, including rooftop panels, and solar thermal power plants use sunlight to generate electricity. Some residential and commercial buildings use solar heating systems to heat water and the building. Overall, 2020 U.S. solar consumption increased 22% from 2019.
-----
Earlier:
2021, June, 16, 11:25:00
U.S. CLEAN NUCLEAR POWER
Nuclear energy has been quietly powering America with clean, carbon-free electricity for the last 60 years.
2021, June, 16, 11:00:00
U.S. SOLAR POWER OVER 100 GW
Renewable energy accounted for nearly 100% of all new electric capacity in Q1 with solar doubling in the last 3.5 years
2021, June, 16, 10:55:00
U.S. OFFSHORE WIND 7 GW
The United States aims to develop 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
2021, June, 10, 12:40:00
U.S. NUCLEAR POWER NEEDS SUPPORT
U.S. nuclear plants produce 20% of the nation's total electricity and more than 50% of its carbon-free electricity,
2021, June, 8, 13:35:00
U.S. TAX BENEFITS FOR CLEAN ENERGY
Tax credit extensions and cash refunds for clean energy are current motions under consideration in the US House of Representatives cabinets.
2021, May, 28, 11:20:00
U.S. COAL UPDOWN
Weekly US coal production was estimated at 11.6 million st, down 5.4% from the previous week, but up 37.2% from the comparable week a year ago
2021, March, 31, 11:35:00
U.S. OFFSHORE WIND 30 GW
As part of the new initiative which spans multiple government agencies, the Departments of the Interior, Energy and Commerce committed to a shared goal of generating 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in the US by 2030.
