Electricity generation, renewables

Wind, solar thermal, and photovoltaic power together accounted in 1998 for only about 1% of U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources and only about 0.1% ofall electricity (DOE/EIA 1999a). 

Figure 3. Scenario (2) with 100% of electricity generated by nuclear and renewables compared to base case (1) and Kyoto target.

Carbon footprint of electricity generation through renewable energy... 

The carbon footprint of electricity generation through RES (Renewable Energy Systems) are described in this section. Elydro-electricity is described first, and then wind power, followed by bioenergy systems and solar energy. 

Sims, R.E.H. Rogner, H.H. Gregory K. Carbon emission and mitigation cost comparisons between fossil fuel, nuclear and renewable energy resources for electricity generation. Energy Policy 2003, 31,1315-1326. 

Many of these plants may be built before CCS is ready and we will need to use our electricity more efficiently to slow the demand for such power plants, while building as many cleaner power plants as possible. Natural gas is far more cleaner for this power than coal. Generating hydrogen with renewables may be needed in order to avoid building coal-fired plants. More electricity from renewable power would reduce the pressure on the natural gas supply and reduce prices. The United States could have essentially carbon-free electricity before 2050 with hydrogen fuel playing a key role. 

Renewables are often seen as the future feedstock for hydrogen, if hydrogen is to make a real contribution to energy security and C02-emission reduction. However, cheap renewable potentials are also limited and will be increasingly in competition with heat and electricity generation. An overview of the renewable potentials worldwide and with a particular focus on the situation in the European Union is at the centre of Chapter 5. 

Renewable electricity (RES-E) Electricity generated from renewable non-fossil energy sources, i.e., wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogas (this corresponds to the definition in Directive 2001/77/EC on renewables, Article 2). 

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