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Renewable Energy Shows Strong Gain In U.S. (arstechnica.com)
WheezyJoe writes: According to the US Energy Information Administration, solar, wind, and gas dominate new US generating capacity in 2016. This year is notable because it will see the first new nuclear plant brought online in 20 years, contributing 1.1 GigaWatts to the grid. But that contribution will be dwarfed by renewable power sources, which together account for nearly two-thirds of 2016's new capacity. Part of the boom in renewables came because the tax incentives for their installation were in danger of expiring, so utilities rushed to get projects through the pipeline ahead of the end of the year. 9.5GW of capacity is expected to come online from solar -- more than the past three years combined. Another 6.8GW is expected from planned additions of wind power, largely spread across the Great Plains. Of new fossil fuel plants, the vast majority are going to be burning natural gas; there are no planned additions of coal plants.
"natural gas produces less CO2 than coal" It's more than that, coal also produces ash that ends up warming the snow it lands on by absorbing sunlight. Re: arctic.
Not really dwarfed.
1.1 GW * 0.903 capacity factor = 0.99 GW actual production by nuclear
9.5 GW * 0.145 capacity factor = 1.38 GW actual production by solar
6.8 GW * 0.25 capacity factor = 1.7 GW actual production by wind
I mean we get it, renewables = good. But comparing based on installed capacity is like comparing farmland based solely on land area, not how much of that land is actually arable.
Another article talking 'capacity' but not talking about how many MWh's each source will actually produce. Capacity alone is a meaningless unit. Natural Gas is the biggest addition by far in terms of how much electricity will be produced.
First it was this is physically impossible.
then it was there isn't enough wind or solar - Germany is sunnier than the USA.
Now it's not about capacity, but how much is being produced at any given moment?
Hey - we'll get off your lawn, mister.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
"natural gas produces less CO2 than coal" It's more than that, coal also produces ash that ends up warming the snow it lands on by absorbing sunlight. Re: arctic.
Well fine, but if you're going to use natural gas, make sure you burn it and not just let it escape to the atmosphere. Sadly, the latter happens all-too-often.
As a greenhouse gas, methane (the principal component of natural gas) is much worse than carbon dioxide.
If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
It's interesting because I know 0% of democrats will vote for Trump
Don't be so sure. Trump is a political chameleon, and on economic issues he is more of a left-wing populist than right wing. On trade, entitlements, etc. he is closer to Bernie Sanders than to the Republican mainstream. His supporters care less about what he says, and more about how he says it. So far, he has paid no consequences for flip-flopping, so he is free to adjust his positions to anything that appeals to the general electorate. If Hillary stumbles (or is indicted), she could easily lose.
Readers should note that nuclear decay means you want to use those fuel rods as much as possible so nukes are not something you turn off and use to cover only peak loads.
The above poster should be ashamed of their idealogical driven apples vs oranges comparison. This is supposed to be a tech site and not a political cheerleading site.
Shill and idiot. You're stove took energy to produce too. And you know what it doesn't produce clean energy. Where as solar does.
Like you, I disagree strongly with the idea that coal is somehow 'cleaner' than solar energy etc, but I don't think it is justified to start calling people idiots for stating their views, even if they appear uninformed. But what I REALLY take issue with is when people are modded 'Troll' simply because they have a different opinion; that is the stupidest way to respond, no better than schoolyard bullying. Insults and bullying can only hurt the viewpoint you appear to be supporting.
Electricity production was and is a highly subsidized area of the economy. They funded up nuclear and they will have to subsidize the storage of nuclear wast for centuries to come. They subsidize coal in Germany, which is totally counter productive if you want to phase the shit out. Anyway, to give solar and wind a chance they subsidize it. While the subsidize model for renewables is not perfect, it resulted in an improvement in efficiency in production and cost. Nowadays in production a MWh is cheaper coming from a on shore wind turbine than from a coal plant.
Apart from our government which is unable to have a plan, we will make this move to renewables in the decades to come. FYI: Denmark will reach this level in 2020 and the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein produced more energy from wind power than they consumed. And they assume that they will able to triple the output in 2025 selling the surplus to the other countries and states to the south.
The main issue at the moment in energy management and storage, but we will find a way to solve these issues.
You spout make-belief.
(1) It was never 'physically impossible', it was not very practical.
Depends on who you were talking to. A lot of folks I've dealt with in that past considered lead-acid cells the alpha and Omega of electric vehicles, IOW, golf carts.
It still isn't, but for the huge subsidies on both production and demand side.
We'll chat about that after the subsidies go away for all.
(2) Germany has a surplus for a few hours. For the other part of the day, they import nuclear from France and Sweden.
That's how progress works. None of this stuff spouts fully formed from the ocean like Venus, and if we demand it does, we won't get anywhere.
While once upon a time we had some things like Bell Labs doing research, modern US corporatism is too risk averse to fund basic science and startups that are as likely to fail as succeed.
But as more and more of this activity is shifted to countries who are willing to put in the basic research, we'll just sit back and become an also-ran.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Socialism. It'll hang on a bit longer than Communism. A bit longer.
Holy smoke AC. Most of the world would kill to have the economic prowess of little Germany.
Better look at some of the numbers before you open your mouth to insert your foot.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.