Renewable Energy Technology Characterizations
The Office of Planning, Budget, and Analysis (PBA) Renewable Energy Technology Characterizations describe the technical and economic status of the major renewable energy options for electricity supply. These characterizations—researched in 1997 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)—provide estimates of future performance and cost improvements expected for these technologies, including biomass, geothermal, photovoltaics, solar thermal, and wind. These projections are based on continuing research and development (R&D) and development of markets for renewable energy through the year 2030.
The technology characterizations are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
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Entire Document (PDF 4.2 MB)
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Front Matter (PDF 148 KB)
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Introduction and Overview (PDF 272 KB)
Biomass
- Overview of Biomass Technologies (PDF 37 KB)
- Gasification-Based Biomass (PDF 329 KB)
- Direct-Fired Biomass (PDF 82 KB)
- Biomass Co-Firing (PDF 228 KB)
Geothermal
- Overview of Geothermal Technologies (PDF 63 KB)
- Geothermal Hydrothermal (PDF 174 KB)
- Geothermal Hot Dry Rock (PDF 175 KB)
Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies
- Overview of PV Technologies (PDF 360 KB)
- Residential PV (PDF 79 KB)
- Utility-Scale Flat-Plate Thin Film PV (PDF 341 KB)
- Utility-Scale PV Concentrators (PDF 116 KB)
Solar Thermal Technologies
- Overview of Solar Thermal Technologies (PDF 297 KB)
- Solar Power Tower (PDF 275 KB)
- Solar Parabolic Trough (PDF 296 KB)
- Solar Dish Engine (PDF 889 KB)
Wind Technologies
- Overview of Wind Technologies (PDF 166 KB)
- Advanced Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines in Wind Farms (PDF 1.5 MB)
Project Financial Evaluation (PDF 34 KB)
- Introduction to Figures of Merit
- Financial Structures
- Techniques for Calculating Levelized Cost of Energy (COE)
- Financial Model and Results
- Payback Period
Appendix: Energy Storage Technologies
- Overview of Energy Storage Technologies (PDF 35 KB)
- Battery Storage for Renewable Energy Systems (PDF 107 KB)
More Data and Analysis Information
Access PBA's Analysis Database for more data and analysis information, which is produced by both EERE and other research organizations.