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Governments are planning ways to reduce emissions, investors are reviewing companies’ environmental performance, and consumers are becoming aware of their carbon footprint. But no matter which party is involved, the production and consumption of fossil fuel energy is one of the biggest contributors to emissions.
What Form Of Renewable Energy Has Declined
Renewable energy technology harnesses energy from the sun, wind, and heat from the earth’s core, and then converts it into usable forms of energy such as heat, electricity, and fuel.
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The infographic above uses data from Lazard, Ember, and other sources to outline everything you need to know about the five main types of renewable energy:
Editor’s note: We exclude nuclear energy here because, although generally defined as sustainable energy, it is not technically renewable (i.e., uranium is limited in quantity).
Hydropower is the largest, though often overlooked, renewable energy source, followed by wind and then solar.
Together, these five major sources will account for about 28% of global electricity generation by 2021, with wind and solar hitting the 10% mark for the first time.
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The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) measures the life cycle cost of new energy generation divided by the total power generation. Solar and wind LCOE is almost one-fifth that of coal ($167/MWh), meaning that new solar and wind power plants are more expensive to build and operate than new coal-fired plants in the long run.
With that in mind, here’s a closer look at five renewable energy sources and how they work.
Wind turbines use large blades, mounted at high altitudes on land and at sea, to capture the kinetic energy produced by the wind.
As the wind flows over the blades, the air pressure on one side of the blades drops and pulls them downwards with a force described as:
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The difference in air pressure on both sides causes the blades to rotate and the rotor to rotate.
The rotor is connected to a turbine generator, which rotates and converts the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity.
Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells contain a semiconductor wafer with a positive electrode on one side and a negative electrode on the other, creating an electric field. When light hits the cell, the semiconductor absorbs sunlight and transfers energy in the form of electrons. These electrons are trapped by the electric field in the form of an electric current.
The solar system’s ability to generate electricity depends on the semiconductor material as well as environmental conditions such as heat, dirt and shadows.
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Geothermal energy comes directly from the earth’s core – heat from the earth’s core boils underground reservoirs called geothermal sources.
Geothermal power plants typically use wells to extract hot water from geothermal sources and convert it into steam for use in turbine generators. The extracted water and steam can then be re-injected, making it a renewable energy source.
Similar to wind turbines, hydroelectric power plants use a turbine generator to convert the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity.
Hydroelectric power stations are usually located near bodies of water and use diversion structures such as dams to change the flow of water. Energy production depends on volume and changes in altitude or
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Biomass – organic matter such as wood, dry leaves and agricultural waste – is often burned but is considered renewable because it can be regenerated or replenished. Combustion of biomass in a boiler produces high pressure steam which turns a turbine generator and generates electricity.
Biomass is also converted into liquid or gaseous fuels for transportation. However, biomass emissions vary by material burned and are generally higher than other clean sources.
Most countries are in the early stages of their energy transition, and few get most of their electricity from clean energy sources. However, growth over the next decade is likely to be higher than last year’s record.
The IEA estimates that by 2026, global power generation from renewable sources will increase by 60% from 2020 levels to more than 4,800 gigawatts – equivalent to current combined production of fossil fuels and nuclear power. So regardless of when renewables take over, it’s clear that the global energy economy will continue to change.
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U.S. Energy Decarbonization Index Utilities This chart calculates and compares the decarbonization status of the 30 largest US utilities owned by investors.
With the Biden administration targeting a zero-emissions US energy sector by 2035, how well is America’s largest electricity supplier decarbonising?
Visual Capitalist and our sponsor, the National Utilities Commission, developed the annual Utilities Decarbonization Index. The index measures and compares the decarbonization status of 30 of the largest investor-owned utilities in the United States.
What’s The State Of Renewable Energy In 2022?
Decarbonization is measured by grading companies on six emissions-related metrics based on publicly available 2020 data (latest available).
Together, the 30 utilities generate approximately 2.3 billion megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity (including purchased electricity), accounting for more than half of net US power generation in 2020. In addition, they serve more than 90 million customers, or around 56 percent of national electricity consumers.
Therefore, it can be said that the top 30 IOUs played an important role in the decarbonization of the energy sector and the US economy. Because the residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors all use electricity, decarbonizing utilities—power providers—can achieve emission reductions throughout the economy.
For each of the six indicators used in the Decarbonization Index, public services are scored on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), indicating whether they are lagging or leading. The score for each metric is based on the numerical range of each metric, which is divided into five equal groups by that utility.
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For simplicity, it is assumed that the minimum reported value for total emissions is zero metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO).
), the highest is 100 metric tons. In this case, companies with CO2 emissions below 20 metric tons
A maximum of 5 points will be awarded. Emissions between 20 and 40 metric tons of carbon dioxide
Data for this metric comes from a variety of sources, including corporate sustainability reports, the Edison Electric Institute quantitative reporting template, and the Climate Disclosure Project’s climate change questionnaire notes.
What The Future Of Renewable Energy Looks Like
Before looking at the numbers, it’s important to note that the Decarbonization Index is relative and compares the 30 largest IOUs to each other. Therefore, a score of 5 does not mean full decarbonization or zero net emissions. On the contrary, it shows that the tool performs very well compared to its counterparts.
A small number of companies do not report data for certain metrics and are excluded from the assessment for this metric (marked as N/A). In this case, the average decarbonization fraction is five metrics instead of six.
New Jersey-based Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) topped this year’s rankings with low emissions and ambitious climate goals. The company aims to achieve net zero emissions from operations by 2030 – five years ahead of Biden’s administration goals and faster than any other company on the list.
Related to PSEG is NextEra Energy Resources, a clean energy subsidiary of NextEra Energy. The company is the world’s largest producer of solar and wind energy, and by 2020, 97% of its net electricity will come from low-carbon sources.
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In third place is California’s largest company, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). PG&E has the lowest per capita emissions of the 30 largest IOUs at 0.5 metric tons of CO
Per retail customer in 2020. This figure is much lower than the average of 11.5 metric tons in 30 IOUs.
Rounding out the top five are Avangrid, the US arm of the Spanish Iberdrola Group, which focuses on renewable energy, and Exelon, the country’s largest utility by retail customer. Avangrid has one of the cleanest fuel mixes and 87% of its own clean electricity comes from low carbon sources. Exelon is the largest provider of zero-emissions electricity in the United States, generating approximately 157 million megawatt-hours of electricity, and 86 percent of its own net electricity comes from nuclear power.
While the Decarbonization Index provides insight into the current state of decarbonization of public services, there is more to be found throughout the report, including:
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>> Click here to download the full report and learn all you need to know about decarbonization utilities.
Energy All electric semi-trailer models in one image A wave of electric semi-trailers is expected in the next few years. Check out this infographic to learn more.
Electric semi-trailers are on the horizon and could help eliminate carbon in the shipping and logistics industry. However, reach remains a major limitation.
This presents a challenge for long haul hauls, where the average diesel semi-trailer can travel up to 2,000 miles before refueling. Compared to the Tesla Semi, a long-range electric model, it promises up to 500 miles. The key word here is “promise” – Spring is still in development and nothing has been confirmed yet.
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We’ve listed them all in this infographic
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Cool Energy
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Author by : Michael Brower
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 1992
Publisher by : MIT Press
ISBN :
Description : Ten years ago, America's brief love affair with renewable energy sources came to an abrupt end, the victim of declining oil prices and government indifference. But renewable energy remains the only viable long-term alternative to depletable and polluting oil, gas, and coal. Cool Energy provides the first major review of progress in the field of renewable energy technologies - solar, wind, biomass (plant matter), hydroelectric, and geothermal - since the mid-1980s. It analyzes their near-term and long-term potential to displace fossil fuels, and illuminates the role they could play in mitigating environmental problems such as air pollution, acid rain, and global warming. Energy-policy specialist Michael Brower argues that, with the right policies, renewable energy could provide as much as half of America's energy needs within forty years. He identifies the market barriers that will have to be removed and argues that if the hidden costs of fossil fuels are taken into consideration, renewables appear to be a cheaper source of new energy supply than fossil fuels: the reliability and efficiency of their equipment have improved and the cost of installing, maintaining, and running renewable systems has declined. Brower devotes a chapter to each renewable energy source, describes its current application, and discusses its costs. He also analyzes new technologies under development and assesses their positive and negative attributes. Introductory chapters set renewables in the context of current energy and environmental policy, and the last chapter outlines steps that can help speed the transition to a renewable-energy economy. Michael Brower is a physicist and holds the position of Research Director for the Union of Concerned Scientists....
Renewable Energies Cogeneration Ideas
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Author by : Charles Nehme
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2022-02-03
Publisher by : Charles Nehme
ISBN :
Description : Renewable energies are sources of energy that can be replenished naturally. These sources include solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass. Renewable energies are important because they are clean sources of energy which do not produce pollutants or greenhouse gases. Additionally, these sources are sustainable and can be used indefinitely. Solar energy is one of the most widely used renewable energy sources. Solar energy is generated by using solar panels to capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electrical energy. This energy can then be used to power homes and businesses. Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of energy and can help reduce the amount of electricity that is produced from burning fossil fuels. Wind energy is another form of renewable energy. Wind turbines are used to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. Wind energy is clean and renewable and can be used to generate large amounts of electricity. Wind energy is increasingly being used to power homes, businesses, and even entire communities. Geothermal energy is energy that is produced from heat stored within the earth. Geothermal energy can be used to generate electrical energy, to heat and cool buildings, and to power industrial processes. Geothermal energy is clean and renewable, and can provide a reliable source of energy. Hydropower is energy generated from the movement of water. Hydropower can be used to generate electrical energy by using turbines that are driven by the force of the water. Hydropower is clean and renewable and can provide a reliable source of electricity. Finally, biomass is an energy source that is derived from organic matter, such as wood, crops, and animal waste. Biomass can be used to generate electrical energy and can help reduce the amount of fossil fuels that are burned. Biomass is a clean and renewable energy source and can help reduce emissions. Overall, renewable energies are important sources of clean and renewable energy. These sources are increasingly being used to power homes, businesses, and entire communities. Renewable energies can help reduce emissions and can provide a reliable source of energy....
Hydrogen And Fuel Cells
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Author by : International Energy Agency
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2004
Publisher by : Simon and Schuster
ISBN :
Description : Hydrogen and fuel cells are vital technologies to ensure a secure and CO2-free energy future. Their development will take decades of extensive public and private effort to achieve technology breakthroughs and commercial maturity. Government research programs are indispensable for catalyzing the development process. This report maps the IEA countries' current efforts to research, develop and deploy the interlocking elements that constitute a "hydrogen economy", including CO2 capture and storage when hydrogen is produced out of fossil fuels. It provides an overview of what is being done, and by whom, covering an extensive complexity of national government R & D programs. The survey highlights the potential for exploiting the benefits of the international cooperation. This book draws primarily upon information contributed by IEA governments. In virtually all the IEA countries, important R & D and policy efforts on hydrogen and fuel cells are in place and expanding. Some are fully-integrated, government-funded programs, some are a key element in an overall strategy spread among multiple public and private efforts. The large amount of information provided in this publication reflects the vast array of technologies and logistics required to build the "hydrogen economy."--Publisher description....
Electricity From Renewable Resources
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Author by : National Research Council
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2010-04-05
Publisher by : National Academies Press
ISBN :
Description : A component in the America's Energy Future study, Electricity from Renewable Resources examines the technical potential for electric power generation with alternative sources such as wind, solar-photovoltaic, geothermal, solar-thermal, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources. The book focuses on those renewable sources that show the most promise for initial commercial deployment within 10 years and will lead to a substantial impact on the U.S. energy system. A quantitative characterization of technologies, this book lays out expectations of costs, performance, and impacts, as well as barriers and research and development needs. In addition to a principal focus on renewable energy technologies for power generation, the book addresses the challenges of incorporating such technologies into the power grid, as well as potential improvements in the national electricity grid that could enable better and more extensive utilization of wind, solar-thermal, solar photovoltaics, and other renewable technologies....
The Renewable Energy Alternative
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Author by : John O. Blackburn
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 1987
Publisher by : Durham, N.C. : Duke University Press
ISBN :
Description : Energy supply problems for the long run have not been solved according to John Blackburn, and they will reappear when the present temporary glut in the oil market ends. Now is the time, Blackburn argues, to plan an orderly transition to a sustainable energy future--before another crisis looms....
Renewable Energy A Status Quo
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Author by : Ali Sayigh
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2016-05-15
Publisher by : River Publishers
ISBN :
Description : It is evident to all that climate change is happening -- the results can be seen in many countries. Floods, freak storms, wind speeds of more than 80 mph, heat waves, droughts, rising sea levels and disappearing glaciers, largely due to excessive use of fossil fuels. Climate change acceleration began slowly in the 1970's but has now increased beyond our ability to stop it or reduce its impact. Using renewable energy effectively on a large scale will put an end or considerably slow down this process in many parts of the world. This book shows that some countries are making greater efforts than others. Installations of the '70's and '80's were limited to kilowatts while in the 2010's we speak in terms of megawatts. The cost of most renewable energy systems has been reduced by so much that they have reached parity with fossil fuels, or are even cheaper. The most effective progress has been made in photovoltaic systems, whilst concentrated solar power, biomass, wind energy and hydro-power have greatly improved payback periods too. While much is hoped from the outcome of the December 2015 Paris climate summit, realistically in the past very few nations honored their pledges. A great deal of aid has been given to poor countries which are suffering from climate change, however, the donor nations have failed to restrict their own carbon emissions. Many poor countries feel they are being expected to forgo the industrial benefits which came from the industrial revolution powered by fossil fuels. The book will outline the achievements of renewable energy by the end of 2015 / beginning of 2016....
The Political Economy Of Electricity
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Author by : Mark Cooper
Languange Used : en
Release Date : 2017-04-24
Publisher by : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN :
Description : Providing critical insights that will interest readers ranging from economists to environmentalists, policymakers, and politicians, this book analyzes the economics and technology trends involved in the dilemma of decarbonization and addresses why aggressive policy is required in a capitalist political economy to create a sea change away from fossil fuels. The environmental damage across the globe is a result of the success of capitalist industrialism—250 years of carbon pollution resulting from consumption of fossil fuels to drive the economy and the worldwide aspiration to ever-increasing levels of economic development. But capitalism has also produced the tools to solve the problems it has created in the form of a technological revolution in low-carbon renewables, distributed resources, and intelligent systems to integrate supply and demand. This book comprehensively examines the political economy of electricity and analyzes the challenge of transforming today's electricity sector to meet the dual goals of decarbonization and development expressed in the Paris Agreement. Author Mark Cooper defines the dilemma of development and decarbonization as the great challenge facing the electricity industry and documents how the economic resources costs of a 100 percent-renewable portfolio has declined to the point that decarbonization can pay for itself, making the low-carbon renewable technologies that enable desired environmental and public-health benefits an easy sell. He identifies the substantial benefit of increasing use of information, communications, and advanced control technologies; shows how targeted innovation could speed the transition by a decade or two and lower the overall cost of the transition by as much as half; and explains why the flexible, multi-stakeholder approach of the Paris Agreement is the correct approach....
