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U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION Electricity Production Boosts Renewable Energy Use
Led by a surge in hydroelectric generation, renewable energy sources increased their share of the Nation's energy supply to 7.9 percent in 1996, according to new Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. In Renewable Energy Annual, Volume 1, EIA reports that the United States consumed 7.4 quadrillion Btu of renewable energy in 1996, up from 6.8 quadrillion Btu in 1995. Electricity production consumed two-thirds of all renewable energy used during 1996, and was responsible for 97 percent of the increase. Renewable electricity generation rose during 1996, primarily due to increased output from existing units, as renewable generation capacity stabilized near the 1995 level of 94,000 megawatts. Greater water availability boosted hydroelectricity generation. Efficiency improvements also contributed to the increase, although to a lesser extent. Biomass sources provide virtually all non-electric renewable energy, which is generally consumed as heat in industrial processes. Biomass energy includes wood, wood waste, manufacturing waste, municipal solid waste, and alcohol used in transportation fuels. Biomass energy use is concentrated in a few manufacturing sectors: paper and pulp, chemical, and brick-making. Biomass energy use has increased slowly but steadily during the 1990's, rising from 2.788 Btu in 1992 to 3.017 Btu in 1996. Geothermal energy production at The Geysers field in northern California increased year-to-year for the first time since 1992. This 0.354 quadrillion Btu increase was the principal reason for geothermal energy's 10 percent increase in use from 1995 to 1996. However, utility sector consumption of geothermal energy (principally at The Geysers) was 35 percent below the 1992 level. In contrast, industrial sector (nonutility) geothermal use increased 11 percent from 1995 to 1996 and is 28 percent above the 1992 level. Use of wind and solar energy increased about 10 percent from 1995 to 1996, but these renewable energy forms still remain small players in the energy market at 0.036 and 0.075 quadrillion Btu, respectively. Production of solar thermal collector panels remained stable at about 7.6 million square feet in 1996, despite a decline in the number of manufacturers from 36 to 28. Almost 90 percent of panels shipped were low-temperature collectors for heating swimming pools. In contrast, photovoltaic (PV) cell and module shipments for grid-interactive and remote applications increased to 35 peak megawatts in 1996, compared with 31 peak megawatts in 1995. In order to speed the availability of EIA's renewable energy data, Renewable Energy Annual 1997, Volume 1 contains only EIA-collected data on renewable energy consumed and solar/PV component manufacturing activities. A subsequent report, Renewable Energy Annual 1997, Volume 2, will contain an analysis of renewable energy issues and supplemental information on renewable energy. Renewable Energy Annual 1997, Volume 1 can be accessed electronically on EIA's World Wide Web Site (http://www.eia.doe.gov). The direct Internet address is: www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/renewable.energy.annual/rea97/contents.html. Published copies will be available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, 202/512-1800, or through EIA's National Energy Information Center, 202/586-8800, on or about November 21, 1997.
EIA Program Contact: Mark Gielecki 202/426-1141; mark.gieleck@eia.doe.gov EIA-97-33 Contact:
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