Forecast: U.S. Renewable Energy to Hit 700 GW (by 2025)

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46717

(fixed link)

The U.S. renewable energy industry collectively tallied its future deliverable energy capacity at 550 to 700 GigaWatts (GW) in Washington, DC yesterday. At such a GW-production rate, the U.S. could produce, at a minimum, 25% of the country's electrical energy requirement with renewable energy by 2025.

"The industry panel identified 550GW - 700GW of renewable energy potential that can be built within the next 10-20 years -- even at a 50% discount -- this makes the "25X25" proposal feasible, reasonable, and doable." -- Michael Eckhart, ACORE, president

According to Michael Eckhart, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) president whose organization hosted the 5th annual national policy conference "Renewable Energy in America: Phase II Market Forecasts and Policy Requirements" in DC yesterday, this is the first time a panel of renewable energy experts has assembled such a combined production capacity forecast.

"We have today put real numbers on America's renewable energy future that we have for years felt in our gut," said Eckhart. "This is a huge tipping point that will guide the public policy support required for renewable energy to help lower CO2 emissions and reduce our nation's dependence on foreign fossil fuels."

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[greenman3610]

1. that's not a high enough percentage

it needs to be more like 60 or 70.
which, I think it will be.

Growth rates will not be as high, due to
technologies like LED lighting and green
building.
Wind/Solar energy growth will be higher than
currently thought.

[jpak]

2. 25x25 is the bare minimum - the US has ~1000 GW of generating capacity today

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat2p2.html

700 GW would be ~70% of current total US generating capacity...

[One_Life_To_Give]

3. Thats a big "IF"

"renewable energy potential that can be built within the next 10-20 years"

We CAN build the Mars & Europa Colonies in the next 10-20 years too.

What Can be, what Should be and what Will be a very different.

[NickB79]

4. Is 700 GW peak operating output, or average?

Just asking, since I know many people have issues with the way renewable energy output, such as wind and solar, is reported, using peak watts of production versus average daily production.