Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Think. Again.

(17,324 posts)
Wed Aug 21, 2024, 05:28 AM Aug 21

Wind and Solar Produced More Energy Than Coal in the U.S. From January Through July This Year, a First.

By Paige Bennett, August 16, 2024
Original Article; https://www.ecowatch.com/wind-solar-energy-production-coal-us-2024.html

From January through July of this year, wind and solar in the U.S. generated more net electricity than power from coal, according to recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

-snip-

In 2023, renewables outpaced coal energy generation for the first five months of the year. But by summer, energy demand increased, especially considering last summer was the Northern Hemisphere’s hottest summer in 2,000 years.

-snip-

“I think it is an important milestone,” said Ric O’Connell, executive director of GridLab, as reported by Scientific American. “I think you’re seeing a solar surge and a coal decline and hence the lines are crossing.”

Renewable energy, particularly from wind and solar sources, has been rapidly increasing. For 2024, the U.S. is slated to add a total of 36.4 gigawatts of solar utility-scale electric generating capacity, up from the 18.4 gigawatts added the previous year.

-snip-




6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Wind and Solar Produced More Energy Than Coal in the U.S. From January Through July This Year, a First. (Original Post) Think. Again. Aug 21 OP
It's neither interesting nor surprising to see the use of dangerous... NNadir Aug 21 #1
as you should know... Think. Again. Aug 21 #2
And yet, in the U.S., solar and wind combined were only about 2.5% of total energy (One 40th) in 2023 progree Aug 21 #3
Great points! Think. Again. Aug 21 #4
Thanks :). On Norway - they are also the world leader in EV purchases, percentage-wise progree Aug 22 #5
Intesting stat... Finishline42 Aug 23 #6

NNadir

(34,548 posts)
1. It's neither interesting nor surprising to see the use of dangerous...
Wed Aug 21, 2024, 07:17 AM
Aug 21

...natural gas being represented as a "victory" for the useless solar and wind scam. Solar and wind, dependent as they are on access to dangerous fossil fuels, are nothing more than lipstick on the fossil fuel pig. The decay of the planetary atmosphere has not been slowed - it is, in fact accelerating at an unprecedented pace - by all of these slick "bait and switch" abuses of numbers.

Think. Again.

(17,324 posts)
2. as you should know...
Wed Aug 21, 2024, 07:25 AM
Aug 21

...the acceleration of CO2 emissions is due to the acceleration of power consumption on a global scale, and not to the acceleration of non-CO2 emitting power generation in the U.S.

progree

(11,463 posts)
3. And yet, in the U.S., solar and wind combined were only about 2.5% of total energy (One 40th) in 2023
Wed Aug 21, 2024, 07:27 AM
Aug 21

Where things stand in the U.S. in 2023 - Energy production and energy consumption by fuel or other energy source. Solar and wind combined are only 2.3% of production and 2.6% of consumption.

From us-energy-facts. The bottom 4 bands are all fossil fuels. So, to see the combined total of fossil fuels, look at the top of the light pink band:.



It is interesting that the total fossil fuel production in BTUs (top of the light pink band) was essentially flat from 1970 to 2007, and then very sad that it went sharply up from there.

Wind and solar combined are 2.3% (less than half the size of the renewables green band).

=========================================================

The above is U.S. production. This one below is U.S. consumption.

As far as I know, the difference (quite a difference in trend!) is exports



At least on the consumption side, fossil fuel consumption in BTUs (top of the reddish band) has marginally declined from a 2007 peak. Though fossil fuels are still a huge 83% of all consumed energy.

The wind and solar total is just 2.6% (it's less than half of the renewables green band).

Think. Again.

(17,324 posts)
4. Great points!
Wed Aug 21, 2024, 08:01 AM
Aug 21

We still have a very long way to go!

But it is good to see our own U.S. overall consumption going down, and very bad to see how our contribution to global consumption through export is rising so drastically.

It reminds me of Norway (I believe) who consumes mostly clean energy in their own country yet the export of fossil fuels is a major financial staple of theirs.

progree

(11,463 posts)
5. Thanks :). On Norway - they are also the world leader in EV purchases, percentage-wise
Thu Aug 22, 2024, 01:34 AM
Aug 22

AFAIK. I read that some time ago.

I did a quick search just to make sure something hadn't changed, apparently not:

https://thedriven.io/2024/08/15/just-45-petrol-cars-sold-in-norway-in-july-as-evs-hit-92-per-cent-of-sales/

Just 45 petrol cars sold in Norway in July as EVs hit 92 per cent of sales, The Driven, 8/15/24

This July, full battery electric vehicles (BEVs) made up 91.9% of all newly registered vehicles, up from 81.7% in July 2023.


=============================================================

It reminds me of Norway (I believe) who consumes mostly clean energy in their own country yet the export of fossil fuels is a major financial staple of theirs.


Yup, that sounds like Norway.

Finishline42

(1,115 posts)
6. Intesting stat...
Fri Aug 23, 2024, 05:58 PM
Aug 23

Had a rider (I'm a Uber/Lyft driver) that had the background on that stat. Seems his wife was from Norway. They have a significant excise tax on ICE vehicles which I find interesting. As you pointed out, they have one of the largest sovereign wealth funds which of course has been largely funded by selling oil and gas...

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Wind and Solar Produced M...