Renewable energy industries and markets grew modestly in 2002, according to the recently-released Renewable Energy Annual 2002 from the Energy Information Administration.

Total consumption of renewable energy rebounded from the sharp drop between 2000 and 2001 caused by record low water levels in the West for hydropower. However, geothermal and non-electric biomass energy consumption continued to decline.

The photovoltaic manufacturing industry maintained a healthy growth rate. The number of geothermal heat pumps manufactured rose in 2002, although total capacity declined.

	Renewable Energy Consumption in the Nation's Energy Supply, 2002
	Source: Energy Information Administration.

Consumption
Consumption of renewable energy rose 11 percent in 2002 to 6 quadrillion Btu. A substantial rise in water availability for hydropower provided most of the increase.

Biomass energy consumption grew very modestly due to greater use of biomass for electricity and ethanol as an oxygenate in gasoline. For the third year in a row, biomass was the largest renewable fuel consumed.

Wind energy consumption rose 56 percent -- largely due to new capacity that came on line at the end of 2001 in response to the expiration of the wind Production Tax Credit -- but still represented only 2 percent of renewable energy consumption. Geothermal and solar energy consumption declined slightly.

Despite the consumption growth in 2002, renewable energy's share of total energy consumption was just 6 percent, compared with nearly 7 percent in 1998. Growth in renewable energy continues to be challenged by several factors including high capital costs compared with fossil-fueled alternatives.

Solar Manufacturing Activity
Photovoltaic (PV) cell and module shipments by manufacturers rose 15 percent in 2002, with domestic shipments growing faster than exports. Germany remained the predominant importer of U.S. PV cells and modules, taking 50 percent of U.S. exports. Exports to Hong Kong rose 129 percent, making it the second-largest U.S. export market with a 16 percent share, while Japan continued to lose ground.

The average unit price of PV cells decreased in 2002 by 14 percent to $2.12 per peak watt. Average module prices, however, increased 9 percent to $3.74 in 2002. The total value of cell and module shipments was $342 million in 2002.

Solar thermal collector manufacturing rose modestly in 2002, consistent with the long-term pattern seen since 1992 (except for a sharp rise between 2000 and 2001). Total shipments of solar thermal collectors rose 4 percent. Solar thermal collectors continue to be used mainly for swimming pools and hot water heating, and most shipments were to the residential sector.

Prices of solar thermal collectors were stable at $2.85 per square foot in 2002, compared with $2.90 in 2001.

Geothermal Heat Pump Activity
Shipments of geothermal heat pumps rose 4 percent between 2000 and 2002 to 37 thousand units. However, the total rated capacity of heat pumps shipped in 2002 declined substantially, from 164 thousand tons in 2000 to 125 thousand tons in 2002, due to a large drop in sales to industrial customers.

Green Pricing and Net Metering
Survey results on green pricing showed 211 electric industry participants reporting customers in green pricing programs during 2002, with just over 710 thousand customers. Also, 98 electric industry participants reported being involved in net metering programs with 5 thousand customers.

Renewable Energy Annual 2002, DOE/EIA-0603(2002); 140 pages, 65 tables, 13 figures.

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File last modified: December 22, 2003