Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy technologies are poised to supply a major part of our energy needs.  But the market for their development has been unfair.  Currently, non-hydro renewable energy is less than 3% of total generation.  If the billions in government subsidies now dedicated to the coal industry were directed to this sector it would grow to a substantial component of U.S. production, replacing jobs in mining areas and creating more throughout the country.  If the multiple billions now being loaned to the builders of coal plants were invested in renewable plants, we would be well on our way towards a green revolution. 

Wind:  The cheapest source of renewable energy, wind power is growing exponentially.  In February 2008, Texas surpassed California as the number one state for wind power generation.  It is being deployed throughout the country.  Wind is clean, emits no CO2 or other harmful pollution, doesn’t use water, and its environmental impact (even accounting for bird kills) is minimal compared to that of a coal plant or to species extinction from global warming.  A wind facility creates more jobs than a new coal plant, benefiting local and regional economies, and isn’t subject to fossil fuel fluctuations in price – reducing risk.   

Wind power faces three hurdles to broader implementation that are aggressively being addressed.  (1) The wind does not blow 24/7.  While it is a cheap and clean way to supply base load electricity, it cannot be relied upon to supply additional demand at any specific time.  For wind rich areas, this problem will decrease as more wind assets are deployed over broad geographic areas – the wind is usually blowing somewhere.  (2) Wind resources are often in remote areas which have limited transmission connection to the overall grid.  New transmission lines are expensive and this cost is sometimes under counted when assessing wind.  Still, compared to building a new coal plant near existing lines, the costs of wind is competitive.  (3) The industrial capacity to fabricate turbine components is growing rapidly but an even more dramatic increase in wind deployment could stress manufacturing capacity.  The industry needs further development.

Even with these challenges, wind is cost-competitive with new coal, today.  Combined with efficiency, wind power would simply feed the grid when and where it can, reducing demand for fossil fuel-generated power.  Find out more about wind power from the Department of Energy.

Concentrating or Thermal Solar:  These facilities use mirrors to focus the sunlight on pipes containing a liquid that is heated to turn a turbine.  A couple of these facilities were built a decade ago.  Three new plants are currently proposed.  They are cost competitive now, have no fuel risk, no CO2 emissions, no significant pollution and minimal environmental impact. They have the ability to store the heated liquid underground to preserve the heat for a few hours allowing them to generate power after the sun sets, a time when demand grows as people return home.  They also benefit by fitting the standard process of electric generation – building central plants that connect to the grid. 

Photovoltaic Solar:  This is the solar most of us are familiar with, panels on a rooftop.  The cost of electricity from solar panels is still significantly higher than other methods. A substantial amount of research and development is being done that should reduce production costs.  This includes thin film solar and some nanotechnology-based panels.  Every decade or so, dramatic improvement in photovoltaic technologies are made.  With proper economic initiatives in place, they could accelerate.  It has all the benefits of the other renewables.  Find out more about solar power here.

Tidal and Wave energy:  Gravitational forces between the earth and moon, and sometimes the sun, give us the energy of tides.  It is the most reliable renewable energy, constant and predictable to the minute.  Harnessing that energy is a technology in its infancy, with some deployment in Europe.  We expect more demonstration projects in the near term and expect that, with proper funding, tidal energy will be a cost-effective addition to energy supply, especially in costal regions of the world with high demand or little existing infrastructure.

Bio-mass:  Biomass uses renewable fuel, some form of recently harvested vegetation.  Biomass facilities emit carbon, but it is carbon that was only recently pulled out of the atmosphere by the plant material during its lifetime, creating a net-zero effect when compared with burning carbon that has been stored in coal, oil and gas for millennia.  However, they still emit CO2 that wouldn’t be emitted otherwise.  And, they present many other challenges including competition over food-producing land, increased food prices, application of pesticides, etc.  As with all alternatives we are discussing, bio-fuels warrent a strong, open debate in civil society so they can be properly weighed against alternatives.  Find out more about bio-fuel power here and here.
Geothermal:  Geothermal energy is heat from within the earth.  In some geologic formations, water is heated by the earth’s core to produce steam.  In addition, the upper 10 feet of the earth’s surface are at a constant 50-60 degrees – warmer than winter’s air and cooler than summer’s.  These renewable resources can be used to generate electricity (Geothermal Power Plants) or heat/cool homes (Geothermal Heat Pumps).  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective systems for temperature control. Although, most homes still use traditional furnaces and air conditioners, geothermal heat pumps are becoming more popular.  Many new green buildings and suburban developments are making use of these technologies.  Find out more about geothermal power here and here.

• Excellent source for information on renewable generation sources.  National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Sources of U.S. Electricity 2006.  Non-hydro renewables only 2.4% 
• Renewable Energy Cost Trends: They have decreased dramatically.
• Renewable energy is cost-competitive. Xcel Energy's recently submitted Colorado Resource Plan (November 15, 2007) estimated these capital costs: Wind-$1645/kW (with Production Tax Credit); Wind-$2,000/kW (no PTC); Concentrating Solar with 6 hrs thermal storage- $2572; IGCC with 50% capture-$3912/kW; Pulverized Coal, dry cooled with 50% capture-$3688/kW.   - go to Vol. 1, p.55
• Standard & Poors comparison of generation method costs, showing per kWh cost of Carbon Capture and Storage.  Wind is cheapest generation method. 
• An example of one way to finance rooftop solar panels which could serve as a model for financing efficiency measures:  The City of Berkley California will install solar panels on resident’s rooftops.  A first-of-its kind program to help property owners install solar energy systems by tacking the cost on to their property tax bills over a 20-year period.