An overview of the renewable energy situation in the US : current projects and projects to come.

1. The United States is one of the world’s major energy
producer. About 83% of its energetic needs are
produced on their lands. Likewise, it is responsible for
a fifth of the world electricity production, i.e. 4058
TWh in 2013.
Fossil and nuclear energy perform a predominant
part of the United States energy mix : 78.53% and
10.11%, respectively. The United States is the world’s
first oil producer – with a daily average production of
11.6 millions of barrels and the world’s second coal
producer – accounting for 12.9% of the worldwide
production.
Still, the part of renewables can’t be neglected in the
energy mix : they account for 12.5% of the electricity
produced and are divided as follows :
The US is the worldwide leader in wind, biomass and
geothermal energy. It is ranked 3rd worldwide solar
producer – following Germany and Italy, and 4th
hydroelectric producer – after China, Canada and
Brazil.
OVERVIEW OF THE US ENERGY MIX
FINERGREEN| FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
PROJECTS INSTALLED
HYDROELECTRICITY
The United States has hugely invested in renewables
over years. Hydroelectricity was the first beneficiary of
this investment policy. Totaling an installed capacity of
298.1 TWh in 2012, hydroelectricity accounts for 55% of
the United States energy mix. The country has around
80 000 dams, and only 2 500 of them are generators.
Turbines have been placed on 600 dams, triggering a
15% increase in the park power. 10 of the 80 000 dams
have a producing capacity of over 1 000 MW. These ten
plants gather a total capacity of 14 GW. The largest one
is Bath County : located in Virginia, its cumulated power
reaches 3 003 MW. The country also totals 1 650 non-
federals plants.
WIND ENERGY
In 2013, 13 124 MWh of wind energy were installed,
thus matching the electric needs of 15 millions
households at least. By the end of 2014, the United
States has accumulated 65 879 MW of installed
capacity. Since 2022, wind energy has known an
impressive growth : after a 25 billion investment of the
government, it has soared by 29.8% in 10 years. Over
170 parks have been inaugurated in 31 different states
– mostly in Southern States as Texas, California and
Oklahoma.
BIOMASS
In 2012, the United States became the world’s first
CAPITAL: Washington
POPULATION: 318,9 million inhabitants
GDP 2013: 17 840 billion $
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION: 13 690 KWh/inhabitant
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION: 4 342,1 TWh
Hydraulic
Solar
Biomass
Wind
Geothermal
RENEWABLES OVERVIEW
THE UNITED STATES

2. Biomass energy producer. The production has
rocketed by 14% within 10 years. In 2014, it reached
6 432 TWh.
Despite their number, numerous American biomass
facilities are either obsoletes or non-respectful of
the anti-pollution norms. 85 plants out of the 107
installed are concerned by these issues. The federal
States and several individual states has offered
grants to help these plants to update their
technologies. With 33 plants installed, the
Californian state is the largest biomass producer.
SOLAR
Solar energy is probably the one that has known the
most significant growth. In 2012, 12.8 TW were
installed, triggering a 2.2 TWh production – i.e a
143% growth between 2011 and 2012.
In 2014, 13.4 billion dollars were invested in PV,
resulting in the development of 18.7 GWh - 8.7 TWh
of them located in California. Individual facilities also
multiplied: in 2015, 2.5 millions of people are
equipped with PV facilities.
Six out of ten of the world’s most powerful plants
are located in the country’s South-West deserts
(California, Nevada and Arizona)
GEOTHERMAL POWER
The United States is the world’s first geothermal
energy supplier. Seven plants were installed in 2013,
producing 19.6 TWh and making this sector grow by
9.6%. The geysers site, Northern San Francisco,
appears to be the most important of the country.
Composed of 21 plants, it produces 2 000 Mwe and
uses the steam of 350 wells.
Another site in southern California is gathering 16
facilities with a total power of 620 Mwe.
WHAT ABOUT FUTURE ?
In August 2015, President Obama presented his
Climate Plan, which aims at reducing CO2 emissions
and fighting against climate change. Thus, he claims
a rise of the renewables part in the energy mix
FINERGREEN| FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
from 12% to 28% by 2030. Considering solar energy,
the construction of 3 407 MWh of plants has begun in
2015 – especially the Westland Solar Park (California)
of 2 700 MWh. Likewise, a 32 GW project is under
development and should be operational by the end of
2016. Almost half of them will be located in
California. In June 2015, the Minister of Interior also
approved the Western Solar program, matching the
development of 440 MW in Nevada.
The United States is willing to enter the offshore wind
market. In 2014, the State of Massachusetts and the
BOEM (Bureau of the Ocean Energy Management)
launched a bid tender that should lead to the
development of a large-scale project : 743 000 ha, 4
zones, 800 turbines producing up to 5 000 MW and
providing electricity to 1.4 million households. From
now, two tenders have been won: OffshoreMW (187
523 ha) and RES America Developments (166 886 ha).
Two other zones are to be carried off.
By 2016, another wind offshore park should be
developed in Block Island (Rhode Island). Lead by
Deepwater Wind, the installation should be
composed of Alstom offshore wind turbines.
Finally, 146 geothermal projects are being developed
in 15 states of center and south of the country (Idaho,
New Mexico, Nevada and California).
www.finergreen.fr
RENEWABLES OVERVIEW
THE UNITED STATES