Comments on: Despite Economic Slump, U.S. Adds 1,649 MW of Wind Energy in Third Quarter

By: Delia Ann Kennedy

Delia Ann Kennedy — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:19:18 +0000

Until solar power goes micro, and until folk can make and install their own DIY solar power systems at home, there is no hope for alternative energy sources to really make a dent in the demand for fossil fuels and dangerous nuclear power.

By: Energy Tough Love Blog » 2009 Was A Very Busy Year For Energy Conservation - And other Environmental Endeavers

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:32:52 +0000

[...] up-front capital required for many renewable energy projects. Despite the economic slump, the wind industry continued to grow through the 3rd quarter, but suffered much more in Q4 of [...]

By: justinjest

justinjest — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:16:32 +0000

Excellent. Thanks for the numbers, DougDante.

This comment was originally posted on Reddit

By: DougDante

DougDante — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:18:00 +0000

Jump to the conclusions if you don’t want to see the numbers. 2008 total US MW @end: 25,300 MW (Megawatts) 2008 total US wind power generated: 52 million MWh (Megawatt Hours) as a % of all power generated in US in 2008: 1.26% Wind power growth rate in 2008: 50% Source: [American Wind Energy Annual Report 2008](http://www.awea.org/publications/reports/AWEA-Annual-Wind-Report-2009.pdf) Conservative full year estimate of new wind energy for 2009: 5,800 MW * 4/3 = 7,733 MW (Expect larger than this). Total: 25,300 MW + 7,733 MW = 33,033 MW Ratio 2009 expected MW to 2008 MW: (33,033 / 25,300 ) = 1.30 Estimated wind power growth rate in 2009: 30% Estimated 2009 total US wind power: 52 million MWh (Megawatt Hours) * 1.3 = 67.6 Estimated wind power % of all generation: 1.26% * 1.3 = 1.6% Total US electric generation in 2007: 4,156,745 Total US electric generation in 1997: 3,492,172 [Energy Information Administration](http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epates.html) Growth rate in total US electric generation: 1.76% ~= 2% Years until 50% power at 30% growth rate: Year of majority wind power at current growth rate: 2009 + 14 = 2023 Years until 50% wind power at 50% growth rate: < 9 years. Years until 50% wind power at 30% growth rate: < 14 years. Years until 50% wind power at 20% growth rate: < 21 years Years until 50% wind power at 10% growth rate: < 45 years Conclusions: So long as we can sustain our slower 30% growth rate, or even if we fall in a year or two to an even slower 20% growth rate in wind power, we can have a majority wind power electrical system in less than 20 years. If we can return to a 50% growth rate in wind power, and sustain it, we can have a majority wind power electrical system in less than 10 years.

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By: sgnmarcus

sgnmarcus — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:40:24 +0000

1.65 GW sounds cooler

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By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:42:24 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Reddit by vonderbish: Not as good as last year, but considering the global economy, not bad at all!…

By: lowrads

lowrads — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:36:11 +0000

Is the US still the leading exporter of electric motors?

This comment was originally posted on Reddit