2014 U.S. Renewable Energy Breakdown

Statistics reveal that nearly 82 percent of energy in the United States still comes from fossil fuels. While a move towards renewable energy exists — wind is the fastest growing renewable source — more development of alternative energy sources is needed. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a breakdown of the progress of American renewable energy in 2014.

Wind Energy continues to slowly grow in Capacity

As of 2012, the United States boasted installed wind turbines that provide 60 Gigawatts of electricity generating capacity. This country’s wind resources have the potential to generate over 10,000 GW of electricity. Even with that promise, the estimates for installed wind capacity only reach 500 GW by 2050.

Considering that one wind turbine providing a megawatt of electricity displaces nearly 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, additional investment in wind power bodes well for the environment. A wind power capacity of 300 GW keeps 825 million metric tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere on an annual basis.

Reducing the Cost of Solar Energy is Key

Solar panels covering only 0.6 percent of the United States provide enough energy for the entire country. Unfortunately, the price of solar energy equipment is what’s holding back faster adoption. The Department of Energy developed the SunShot Initiative with the hopes of reducing the costs of solar energy by 75 percent before the end of this decade.

If SunShot is successful, the expectation is that 27 percent of U.S. electricity demand will be met by solar sources by 2050. This will result in a 28 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions over that same period.

Geothermal and Hydrothermal Sources offer Promise

Geothermal power sources in the United States currently keep 22 million metric tons of CO2 from polluting the atmosphere. These sources are primarily available in the Western U.S. along with Alaska and Hawaii. The amount of geothermal electricity from power plants is expected to increase from 17 billion kWh in 2011 to 56 billion kWh by 2040, making this energy source beneficial for the environment.

If the promise of renewable energy inspires you to take you engineering career to the next level, make it a point to talk to The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering staffing agencies in Washington State, they are a great source for Seattle engineering jobs. Give them a call today!