NREL: 23% Of Global Electricity Generation Supplied By Renewable Sources

[kristopher]

This is a chart heavy discussion with embedded links to literally dozens more than are displayed.

NREL: 23% Of Global Electricity Generation Supplied By Renewable Sources

Originally published on 1Sun4All.

The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) released a report – 2012 Renewable Energy Data Book – in October of 2013 regarding the status of renewable energy globally and in the US. The report has an abundance of great charts and, in reading through the pages, I discovered that renewable energy accounts for 23% of all electricity generation worldwide (4,892 TWh) (on page 41). I’ve brought out a few of the relevant charts and findings. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

In 2012, Germany led the world in cumulative solar photovoltaic installed capacity, reports the NREL. The United States leads the world in geothermal and biomass installed capacity. China leads in wind, and Spain leads in solar thermal electric generation (STEG). The following is from the 2012 Renewable Energy Data Book:

Leading Countries For Installed Renewable Energy
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Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/03/nrel-23-global-electricity-generation-supplied-renewable-sources/#mrxygUrc3QrrXHD5.99

[caraher]

1. Of course, that's mostly hydroelectric

It looks like the growth, since 2000 in terms of absolute electricity generated, is roughly equal parts wind/solar (mostly wind) and (I assume largely Chinese) hydroelectric power.

[kristopher]

2. Yes it is.

Here are more charts that help fill out the picture:

18 Fun Renewable Energy Charts From NREL Director Dan Arvizu & Ren21′s Renewables 2013 Global Status Report
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/07/renewable-energy-charts-renewable-energy-facts/

[cprise]

3. That's more headroom for solar/wind expansion. n/t

[kristopher]

4. That's an interesting way to look at it.

I agree with caraher's implication - the details are interesting. For me it's because of the reminder about areas you don't usually consider. Look at solar hot water for example. I wonder if the trend for growth its been showing is going to shift over to PV now that modules have dropped so far in price.

[kristopher]

5. All New Generation in Australia Will Be Renewables Through 2020

All New Generation in Australia Will Be Renewables Through 2020
By Katherine Tweed
Posted 20 Dec 2013 | 17:07 GMT

All new electricity generation in Australia will come from renewable energy through 2020, according to a new report from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) [PDF].

The bulk of the new power will be wind, with large-scale scale solar photovoltaics comprising about about 13 percent and biomass making up the rest at 3 percent. There are nearly 15 800 megawatts of proposed wind generation projects, according to the AEMO. More than 780 MW of the wind power is expected to come online in 2014-2015.


new australia generation

A carbon tax has been in effect Down Under since 2012, but the government could repeal it. Even without the tax, coal power will still be retired as more renewables come online, according to the report. By 2020, there could be 3700 MW less coal-fired generation, about 13 percent of the country's total coal power production.

In the short term, however, AEMO is focused on the challenges of bringing renewables online, which can introduce transmission and distribution issues onto the grid. Intermittent renewable energy can cause instability and can require more ancillary services such as frequency regulation to offset the variable power coming from wind or solar. The AEMO will include transmission connection point forecasts into its electricity forecasts moving forward and is reviewing transmission projects.

The market operator is also developing an independent assessment...

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/all-new-generation-in-australia-will-be-renewables-through-2020


Report:
http://www.pennenergy.com/content/dam/Pennenergy/online-articles/2013/December/2013_NTNDP.pdf.pdf