US Department of Energy releases US 20% wind by 2030 study

'20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to US Electricity Supply'

Press release on DoE web site: "Wind energy could produce 20% of US electricity by 2030".

12 May 2008
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner hosted a press conference today at the National Press Club to unveil a new report outlining the technical feasibility of wind power in providing 20% of our nation's electricity needs by 2030 (the 20% wind scenario).

The 248 page report was prepared by DOE in a joint effort with industry, government and the nation's national laboratories (primarily the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)). The report considers various challenges associated with the 20% wind scenario - it estimates the impacts and considers specific needs and outcomes in the areas of technology, manufacturing and employment, transmission and grid integration , markets, siting strategies and potential environmental effects.

The report identifies requirements to achieve the 20% goal including the need for new transmission infrastructure, and the need for enhanced domestic manufacturing capability. Most notably, the report identifies opportunities for 7.6 cumulative gigatons of carbon dioxide to be avoided by 2030, saving 825 million metric tons in 2030 and every year thereafter if wind energy achieves 20 percent of the nation’s electricity mix.

“DOE’s wind report is a thorough look at America’s wind resource, its industrial capabilities, and future energy prices, and confirms the viability and commercial maturity of wind as a major contributor to America’s energy needs, now and in the future,” DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for the U.S. Department of Energy Andy Karsner, said. “To dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance our energy security, clean power generation at the gigawatt-scale will be necessary, and will require us to take a comprehensive approach to scaling renewable wind power, streamlining siting and permitting processes, and expanding the domestic wind manufacturing base.”

The following graphic is taken from the report and shows the capacity of new wind turbines which will need to be installed every year in order to meet the 2030 20% wind target.

Installation rate required to reach 20%

20% Windpower by 2030: web site

Department of Energy press release

Full Report ( 3.95 MB)

WEICan contact for additional information:
James Glennie
Office: +1-902-882-4128