78% Wind Energy Increase Solar Electric Power Association Reports
The Volume of Solar and Wind Energy Rose Last Year
Eighty-two point three percent of emissions from carbon dioxide are from the U.S. power segment. In order to reduce these emissions, an increase in the volume of renewable energy generated is vital. Solar and wind power sources need to be increased. In a report released by the Solar Electric Power Association in 2008, it states that it is not unusual for the solar megawatts in a utility’s portfolio to increase by double or more.
San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric were three utilities topping a list included in the report for the installation of solar megawatts in 2008. PG&E is credited for installing almost 30,000 photovoltaic solar devices. In 2008 PG&E joined 85 megawatts in new volume which was more than 44% of the sum being reported by 92 utilities SEPA surveyed.
Installing almost 2,700 watts of solar power per customer, San Francisco Public Utilities Commissions was at the head of the list for the 340 customers that received this installation of solar power.
Julia Hamm, the executive director of SEPA had this to say about the report. Utilities are starting to pay attention to solar energy according to the report. The plants that will supply solar power whether they are small or large are readying themselves for the noteworthy events and the utility build-out, and the utility business is getting ready for a large-scale changeover to meet the needs of businesses.
The manufacturing volume of solar PV went up 65%. Solar energy to the tune of 1,265 megawatts was installed in 2008. Even though the economy was suffering in the U.S., 2008 saw the solar energy demand grow vastly according to the president and CEO of SEIA, Rhone Resch.
Wind Power in the U.S. Was Up Last Year
Bypassing Germany, the U.S. took the top spot in installing wind power last year. 2008 saw enough to generate power to more than two million residences installed – 8,358 megawatts, to be exact. This upped the capacity to generate wind power by 50%. Installing this much wind power stopped carbon emissions in the range of 44 million tons. This is the same as our roads being minus about seven million cars.
An increase of 78% in the U.S. market for wind turbines was evident in 2008. These smaller turbines have about a 100 kilowatt volume.
Denise Bod, American Wind Energy Association CEO, said 2008 was a terrific year for wind energy in the U.S. when it came to the establishment of wind as a major source of generating electricity and creating jobs.
Read more about Investing in Renewable Technologies: Wind, Solar, Geotherm, Hydro, Biomass
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