Programs: Science and Policy
http://www.aaas.org//spp/cstc/briefs/renewables/renewables_table2.shtml
Comparing Renewables with Fossil Fuels
Energy Sources at a Glance1
Energy Source
|
Share of total generation in 2007 (in percent) |
Share of total renewable generation in 2007 (in percent) |
Percentage change in annual generation 2006-20087 |
Average price per kWh in 20078 |
CO2 emissions from electricity generation in 20079 |
Annual CO2 emissions savings10 (2010 proj.) |
Federal subsidies in cents per kilowatt hour in 200711 |
Federal R&D funding in FY 2009 budget12 |
Coal |
48.6 |
- |
1.3 |
2.1 |
1,979.7 |
- |
0.075 |
624 |
Natural Gas |
21.5 |
- |
6.0 |
3.9 |
376.4 |
- |
0.025 |
0 |
|
Nuclear |
19.4 |
- | 1.4 |
1.1-12.7 |
- |
- |
0.159 |
630 |
|
Hydroelectric2 |
6.0 |
70.7 | -9.0 |
2.0-10.0 |
- |
59.86 |
0.067 |
3 |
Biomass3 |
1.3 | 15.8 | 0.4 |
4.0-12.0 | 11.2 |
8.87 |
0.089 |
225 |
|
Petroleum4 |
1.2 | - | -29.8 |
4.8 |
44.5 |
- |
0.025 |
0 |
|
Wind |
0.8 | 9.2 | 41.4 |
5.0-8.5 |
- |
10.10 |
2.34 |
53 |
|
Geothermal |
0.4 | 4.2 | 1.6 |
5.5-10.0 |
0.4 | 3.48 |
0.092 |
30 |
|
Solar5 |
0.0001 | 1.7 |
36.3
|
16.5-27.5
| - | 0.47 |
2.43 |
156 |
All Renewables |
8.4 | 100.0 |
-2.2
|
6.6-34.0
| - | 94.49 |
0.28 |
1,025 |
All Sources6 |
100.0 | - |
1.4
|
9.1
| - | - |
0.17 |
2,280 |
1 - Source (except where noted): Energy Information Administration, "Net Generation by Energy Source by Type of Producer," Tables 1.1 and 1.1.A
2 - Excludes pumped storage facilities
3 - Includes wood, black liquor, other wood waste, biogenic municipal solid waste, landfill gas, sludge waste, agricultural byproducts, and other biomass
4 - Distilate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, jet fuel, kerosene, and waste oil - excludes petroleum coke
5 - Includes photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal generators
6 - Includes sources not on this table (other gases, petroleum coke, batteries, chemicals, tire-derived fuels, hydrogen, and others)
7 - During period between January and September of each year
8 - Source: Renewable Sources - U.S. Department of Energy, Renewable Energy Data Book, p. 23. Non-Renewable Sources - IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group III, Chapter 4, Table 4.7. p. 293. All prices are in 2007 cents. NOTE - Total average price is the average retail price of electricity in the U.S. in 2007, provided by the Energy Information Administration.
9 - Source: Energy Information Administration, Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Report, Table 11, in millions of metric tons. Value for biomass is for municipal solid waste only.
10 - Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Power Technologies Energy Data Book, Table 4.3. Based upon 2006 reference case. Values are in millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
11 - Source: Energy Information Administration, Federal Financial Interventions and Subsidies in Energy Markets 2007, Table ES5. p. xvi. NOTE: Value for coal is the average of coal and refined coal, weighted by amount generated in FY 2007. Values are in 2007 cents.
12 - Source: AAAS Report XXXIII: Research and Development 2009, Chapter 8, Table II-11. Amounts are in millions of 2008 U.S. dollars. NOTES: Funding is for Department of Energy programs only. Value for coal includes funding for Clean Coal Init., FutureGen, carbon sequestration, and other fuels and power sys. Value for nuclear includes research on waste disposal programs, which was zero for 2009. Value for total of all sources includes R&D funding for efficiency improvements.
