The U.S. Could Run on 80-Percent Renewable Electricity by 2050

Wiser says.

Demand-response programs could help, too. Using smart-grid communications, utilities could send signals to electricity consumers to reduce demand during cloudy, windless periods, in return for some sort of compensation. This could be done automatically with smart appliances—now starting to become available—that can change their operation depending on pricing signals from the utility. Utilities could also send signals to increase electricity consumption, such as by signaling electric cars to start charging.

Technical feasibility is one thing. But all sorts of practical problems could arise that could prevent renewables from producing 80 percent of U.S. electricity. Landowners often resist transmission lines; unforeseen environmental problems could arise; and the costs may deter politicians. The researchers estimate it could be done at a cost of between 2.5 to 5 cents per kilowatt hour on top of what electricity prices would have been using conventional power production. Electricity costs on average about 10 cents per kilowatt hour in the United States.

The best way to keep the costs to the low end is to invest in R&D, Wiser says. The researchers considered several variables that impact cost, including the cost and difficulty of transmission and of integrating intermittent resources. But they found that the biggest impact on cost came from different assumptions about how quickly renewable energy technology improves. Major breakthroughs aren’t needed to keep the additional cost to 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour, but if progress stagnates, the costs will be on the high end. If breakthroughs do happen, costs could be lower than 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour.

energy, solar, renewable energy, electricity, wind, nrel

View the Original article