Renewable Energy
57
57
5.4 Renewable Energy Progress
In April 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reported
that the electricity- generating capacity of renewables had exceeded that of
coal for the first time (FERC, 2019). The figures were 21.56% for renewables
and 21.55% for coal. The capacity for natural gas was 44.44% and for nuclear
was 8.95%.
The electricity generated in April 2019 from renewables exceeded that
from coal in the USA (Daley, 2019). In Texas, wind and solar generation
was greater than electricity from coal for the first quarter of 2019 (Wamsted,
2019). One of the operational aspects is that electricity use is lower in April
because heating and cooling use is less. Since there is no fuel cost for wind
and solar, the reduction in operational output is from coal and natural gas
plants (Wamsted, 2019).
For natural gas, the fraction of generating capacity (44.44%) is greater than
the operational fraction (35%) because there are natural gas plants that are
available to be used to provide peak power, and they are shut down for
many days of the year. Since all of the electric power from wind and solar
is used, the fraction of power from wind and solar is larger in the spring
and fall. In summer, the natural gas plants are operated to meet peak power
needs and coal plants are operated at a greater fraction of their capacity
(Wamsted, 2019).
References
Daley (2019). For the first time, green power tops coal industry in energy production
in April. Smithsonian; www.smithsonianmag.com/
ELP (2018, October 8). Danish Offshore Wind Company Orsted Buys Deepwater Wind.
Electric Light and Power; www.elp.com/
FERC (2019). Energy Infrastructure Update for April 2019. Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission; www.ferc.gov/
Graziano, M., and Gillingham, K. (2015). Spatial patterns of solar photovoltaic system
adoption: The influence of neighbors and the built environment. Journal of
Economic Geography, 15(4), 815– 839; https:// doi.org/ 10.1093/ jeg/ lbu036
Herscowitz, A. (2018, May 23). The unintended consequences of falling solar prices in
Africa; https:// medium.com/ power- africa/
Hill, J.S. (2018, August 6). China installs 24.3 Gigawatts of solar in first half of 2018.
Clean Technica; https:// cleantechnica.com/
Jenniches, S. (2018). Assessing the regional economic impacts of renewable energy
sources – A literature review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 93: 35– 51.
Kuffner, A. (2018, May 23). R.I. selects Deepwater Wind to build 400 MW offshore
wind farm. Providence Journal.
57
57
5.4 Renewable Energy Progress
In April 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reported
that the electricity- generating capacity of renewables had exceeded that of
coal for the first time (FERC, 2019). The figures were 21.56% for renewables
and 21.55% for coal. The capacity for natural gas was 44.44% and for nuclear
was 8.95%.
The electricity generated in April 2019 from renewables exceeded that
from coal in the USA (Daley, 2019). In Texas, wind and solar generation
was greater than electricity from coal for the first quarter of 2019 (Wamsted,
2019). One of the operational aspects is that electricity use is lower in April
because heating and cooling use is less. Since there is no fuel cost for wind
and solar, the reduction in operational output is from coal and natural gas
plants (Wamsted, 2019).
For natural gas, the fraction of generating capacity (44.44%) is greater than
the operational fraction (35%) because there are natural gas plants that are
available to be used to provide peak power, and they are shut down for
many days of the year. Since all of the electric power from wind and solar
is used, the fraction of power from wind and solar is larger in the spring
and fall. In summer, the natural gas plants are operated to meet peak power
needs and coal plants are operated at a greater fraction of their capacity
(Wamsted, 2019).
References
Daley (2019). For the first time, green power tops coal industry in energy production
in April. Smithsonian; www.smithsonianmag.com/
ELP (2018, October 8). Danish Offshore Wind Company Orsted Buys Deepwater Wind.
Electric Light and Power; www.elp.com/
FERC (2019). Energy Infrastructure Update for April 2019. Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission; www.ferc.gov/
Graziano, M., and Gillingham, K. (2015). Spatial patterns of solar photovoltaic system
adoption: The influence of neighbors and the built environment. Journal of
Economic Geography, 15(4), 815– 839; https:// doi.org/ 10.1093/ jeg/ lbu036
Herscowitz, A. (2018, May 23). The unintended consequences of falling solar prices in
Africa; https:// medium.com/ power- africa/
Hill, J.S. (2018, August 6). China installs 24.3 Gigawatts of solar in first half of 2018.
Clean Technica; https:// cleantechnica.com/
Jenniches, S. (2018). Assessing the regional economic impacts of renewable energy
sources – A literature review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 93: 35– 51.
Kuffner, A. (2018, May 23). R.I. selects Deepwater Wind to build 400 MW offshore
wind farm. Providence Journal.