Renewable & Alternative Fuels
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Wind industry installs almost 5,300 MW of capacity in December ›
EIA's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook for renewables ›
EIA's monthly biodiesel statistics ›
EIA projects growing share for renewable electricity generation ›
Energy In Brief Articles
How much of our electricity is generated from renewable sources?
U.S. power plants used renewable energy sources — water (hydroelectric), wood, wind, organic waste, geothermal, and sun — to generate about 13% of our electricity in 2011.
What are renewable portfolio standards and how do they affect generation of electricity from renewable sources?
Renewable portfolio standards are policies designed to increase electricity generation from renewable resources, including wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. Many States have their own renewable portfolio standards, although currently there is no program at the National level. States with renewable portfolio programs have seen an increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable fuels.
How much of the world's electricity supply is generated from wind?
Worldwide wind power generation exceeded 250 billion kilowatthours in 2009, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 22 million average households in the United States. Wind generation increased by about 20% from 2008 to 2009, and has more than tripled since 2004. This growth is mostly due to capacity increases in the United States, China, India, and Western Europe.
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Renewable Energy Explained
What is renewable energy?
Unlike fossil fuels, which are exhaustible, renewable energy sources regenerate and can be sustained indefinitely. The five renewable sources used most often are biomass, water (hydropower), geothermal, wind, and solar.
Renewable energy incentives
Investment in and use of renewable energy is both encouraged and required by a range of state and federal government incentives and legislation.
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Features
Monthly Biodiesel Production Report
Released February 1, 2013
The Monthly Biodiesel Production Report provides data on operations of the U.S. biodiesel industry.
Biodiesel and fuel ethanol statisticsReleased January 28, 2013
The most recent monthly and annual overview statistics for fuel ethanol and biodiesel, published in the Monthly Energy Review.
Biofuels Issues and Trends
Released October 15, 2012
This report presents data on biofuels consumption, production, imports and exports, including data collected by others than the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It also discusses important developments in biofuels markets.
Solar Photovoltaic Cell/Module Shipments Report 2011
Released September 26, 2012
Total shipments of PV modules were up nearly 43 percent in 2011 from the 2010 level, hitting a new record high of 3,772,075 peak kilowatts.
What's New in Renewable & Alternative Fuels
Planned wind turbine additions rise in advance of scheduled expiration of wind tax credit
December 19, 2012
Trends in Renewable Energy Consumption and Electricity
December 11, 2012
Wind energy tax credit set to expire at the end of 2012
November 21, 2012
Survey Forms, Changes & Announcements
Renewable and Alternate Fuels Survey Forms and Instructions ›