Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Courtesy of EIA
About 6.2% of total U.S. electricity supplies in 2013 were generated from nonhydro renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal, up from 5.4% in 2012. But 11 states produced electricity at more than twice the national average from these sources—accounting for between 14% and 32% of their net electric generation—according to preliminary 2013 generation data in EIA’s Electric Power Monthly report.
Maine led all states by generating 32% of its electricity from nonhydro renewables—primarily biomass generation by the wood products industry. The state had one-fourth of its net electric generation come from biomass resources.
Nearly all other states with high proportions of renewable generation relied primarily on wind power. Iowa and South Dakota each got more than 25% of their net electricity from wind generation, and Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Colorado generated 12%-20% of their power from wind resources.
California generated more than 18% of its electricity from nonhydroelectric renewable sources, but 2013 was the first year that wind produced more electricity than the state’s geothermal resources, which are the nation’s largest. Biomass and solar generating resources also contributed to the state’s renewable portfolio.
The largest amount of nonhydroelectric renewable power was generated in Texas, with California a close second. But Texas produced more electricity than any other state, so the proportion of nonhydroelectric renewable sources in its generation was about 9%.
Goal is commercially feasible fuel cell and hydrogen storage in 2020 time frame
General Motors, an acknowledged leader in fuel cell vehicle development, announced Tuesday (July 2) a long-term, definitive master agreement with Honda to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies, aiming for the 2020 time frame. Image courtesy of GM
NEW YORK – General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Honda (NYSE: HMC) announced today a long-term, definitive master agreement to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies, aiming for the 2020 time frame. The collaboration expects to succeed by sharing expertise, economies of scale and common sourcing strategies.
GM and Honda plan to work together with stakeholders to further advance refueling infrastructure, which is critical for the long-term viability and consumer acceptance of fuel cell vehicles.
GM and Honda are acknowledged leaders in fuel cell technology. According to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index, GM and Honda rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in total fuel cell patents filed between 2002 and 2012, with more than 1,200 between them.
“This collaboration builds upon Honda and GM’s strengths as leaders in hydrogen fuel cell technology,” said Dan Akerson, GM chairman and CEO. “We are convinced this is the best way to develop this important technology, which has the potential to help reduce the dependence on petroleum and establish sustainable mobility.”
Takanobu Ito, president & CEO of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. said: “Among all zero CO2 emission technologies, fuel cell electric vehicles have a definitive advantage with range and refueling time that is as good as conventional gasoline cars. Honda and GM are eager to accelerate the market penetration of this ultimate clean mobility technology, and I am excited to form this collaboration to fuse our leading fuel cell technologies and create an advanced system that will be both more capable and more affordable.”
The General Motors Fuel Cell vehicle on Sandy Beach Saturday, December 4, 2010.near Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Steve Fecht for General Motors)
GM’s Project Driveway program, launched in 2007, has accumulated nearly 3 million miles of real-world driving in a fleet of 119 hydrogen-powered vehicles, more than any other automaker.
Honda began leasing of the Honda FCX in 2002 and has deployed 85 units in the U.S. and Japan, including its successor, the FCX Clarity, which was named the 2009 World Green Car. Honda has delivered these vehicles to the hands of customers in the U.S. and collected valuable data concerning real-world use of fuel cell electric vehicles.
As already announced, Honda plans to launch the successor of FCX Clarity in Japan and the United States in 2015, and then in Europe. GM will announce its fuel cell production plans at a later date.
Fuel cell technology addresses many of the major challenges facing automobiles today – petroleum dependency, emissions, efficiency, range and refueling times. Fuel cell vehicles can operate on renewable hydrogen made from sources like wind and biomass. The only emission from fuel cell vehicles is water vapor.
Additionally, fuel cell vehicles can have up to 400 miles driving range, can be refueled in as little as three minutes, and the propulsion technology can be used on small, medium, and large vehicles.
About General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
About Honda Motor Co.
Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) Honda designs, manufactures and markets automobiles, motorcycles and power products worldwide. A global leader in powertrain and electromotive technologies, Honda produces more than 25 million engines annually for its three product lines. Honda and its partners build products in more than 60 manufacturing plants in 27 countries, employing more than 179,000 associates globally.
This article is a repost, credit: General Motors, http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2013/Jul/0702-gm-honda.html.
President Barack Obama thanked American troops in declaring May 18, 2013, as Armed Forces Day, adding that words and ceremonies are not enough to honor them and their families who serve alongside them. “Whenever our liberties have come under assault, our service members have responded with resolve,” Obama said. DOD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad McNeeley Photo courtesy of DOD
As the single largest consumer of energy in the United States, the Department of Defense (DOD) knows that improving efficiency and harnessing new energy technologies is imperative – not only to achieve significant cost savings, but to give our troops better energy options on the battlefield, at sea, in the air, and at home.
At DOD’s fixed installations alone – including, barracks, offices, and hospitals – energy bills come in around $4 billion each year. Given this large footprint as well as the importance of safe, secure, and affordable energy sources to mission readiness, the Department has made one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history, by developing a goal to deploy three gigawatts of renewable energy – including solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal – on Army, Navy, and Air Force installations by 2025 – enough to power 750,000 homes.
When it comes specifically to solar power, a new report today from the Solar Energy Industries Association underscores the progress that DOD is making towards its goals.
“Enlisting the Sun: Powering the U.S. Military with Solar Energy” highlights solar energy’s growing role in powering military installations and military homes across America. According to the report, as of early 2013, there are more than 130 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems powering Navy, Army, and Air Force bases in at least 31 states and the District of Columbia. Combined, these installations provide enough clean energy to power more than 20,000 American homes.
Beyond the direct benefits to our military, DOD’s investments in clean energy benefit the country as a whole, by catalyzing private sector investment to more quickly commercialize advanced technologies for a variety of commercial applications.
In his first term, President Obama made the largest investment in clean energy in our history, which enabled the United States to double its use of renewable energy from wind, solar, and geothermal sources, and create tens of thousands of jobs across the country. During the same period, the cost of solar modules has fallen by more than 400%, helping the solar industry achieve its best year in the United States in 2012.
Moving forward, as the military continues to adopt clean energy technologies and lead by example, President Obama believes the United States as a whole must do the same. In fact, by supporting proven clean energy tax incentives and funding basic research and development, we can double renewable generation from wind, solar, and geothermal again by the end of the decade. These policies will help advance our energy security, respond to the threat of climate change, and compete for the jobs of the 21st century.
This article is a repost, credit: The White House Blog, Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/17/stronger-and-sustainable-military-21st-century.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2013.
The extended policies case, released today as part of EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2013 (AEO2013), shows that extending certain federal energy efficiency and renewable energy laws and regulations could reduce annual energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States in 2040 by roughly 6% relative to a Reference case projection that generally assumes current laws and policies. Between 2013 and 2040, this reduction adds up to a cumulative emission savings approaching five billion metric tons.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2013.
Projected emissions reductions result from decreased energy consumption as well as additional energy production from low-carbon resources. In 2040, the Extended Policies case projects four quadrillion Btu lower annual U.S. energy consumption than the Reference case. The cumulative amount of energy use is 55 quadrillion Btu lower between 2013 and 2040.
The Extended Policies case differs from the Reference case, which generally reflects policies as they exist in spring 2013, including the assumption that any sunset dates (for example, scheduled expirations for tax credits) or other scheduled milestones occur as specified in law. In the Extended Policies case, EIA explores the possible effects of the indefinite continuation of certain provisions that have expiration dates and the expansion of certain energy laws and regulations.
The Extended Policies case includes key assumptions affecting:
Electric power
Residential and commercial buildings
Transportation
Industry
The continuation of the production tax credit for wind, biomass, geothermal, and other renewable resources, and the investment tax credit for solar generation technologies exemplify the policy extensions included in this case.
For a discussion of assumptions and results, see the full Issues in Focus article on the No Sunset and Extended Policy cases in AEO2013. The full article also features a discussion of a special case investigating the effects of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 passed by Congress on January 1, 2013.
NREL Scientist Bryon Donohoe looks at different views of ultra structures of pre-treated biomass materials in the Cellular Visualization room of the Biomass Surface Characterization Lab. | Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL. Photo courtesy of DOE
America’s homegrown fuel resources — from wood chips to the leaves and stalks of corn plants — are plentiful. Research finds that these resources could produce enough clean, renewable fuel to replace about 30 percent of the nation’s current petroleum consumption. Still, on the path to creating a strong, thriving biofuels industry, there are challenges we continue to address. That’s why we’re working with researchers, industry and other partners to increase the reliability and cost-effectiveness of renewable fuel production.
The good news is we are making progress — particularly when it comes to cellulosic ethanol. For the uninitiated, cellulosic ethanol is fuel produced from the inedible, organic material abundant in agricultural waste — including grasses, farm waste and virtually every type of plant. While cellulosic ethanol represents a huge opportunity for the renewable fuels industry, the high costs and inefficiencies associated with the technology are barriers to its commercialization. However, with major technology milestones met by researchers at our National Labs and industry partners — that’s all starting to change.
Last fall, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) successfully demonstrated the technical advances needed to produce cellulosic ethanol cost competitively at $2.15 per gallon — a process that was modeled at $9 per gallon just a decade ago.
To get here, scientists led pilot-scale projects at NREL’s Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility and Thermochemical Users Facility for two cellulosic ethanol production processes – biochemical conversion and thermochemical conversion. Both processes successfully produced renewable fuel at prices competitive with petroleum. At the biochemical pilot, cellulosic ethanol was produced at a modeled commercial-scale cost of $2.15 per gallon. For the thermochemical pilot, cellulosic ethanol was produced at a modeled commercial-scale cost of $2.05 per gallon.
The successful demonstration of these cost-cutting technologies is helping the private sector ramp-up efforts to commercialize cellulosic ethanol production. Facilities to produce cellulosic ethanol are under construction including Energy Department-supported projects led by Abengoa in Hugoton, Kansas, POET in Emmetsburg, Iowa, and INEOS in Vero Beach, Florida. Going forward, these technical breakthroughs will be leveraged by private industry and Energy Department to commercialize other technical pathways — including the conversion of cellulosic feedstock into high performing “drop-in” biofuels that are virtually indistinguishable from gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products.
You can learn more about the Energy Department’s efforts to sustainably transform the nation’s abundant renewable resources into cost-competitive, renewable fuel by visiting the Bioenergy Technologies Office website.
