US renewable energy output to beat hydro generation in 2014 - EIA

Oct 9, 2014 - Electricity production from non-hydropower renewable sources in the US is forecast to grow by 5.6% in 2014, surpassing conventional hydroelectric generation for the first time on an annual basis.

In its short-term energy outlook published on October 7, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said that conventional hydropower production is seen to decline by 4.2% this year. For next year, the agency expects total renewables consumption for electric power and heat generation to grow by 4.6% thanks to a 4.3% increase in hydropower and a 4.7% rise in non-hydropower renewables.

In the meantime, wind power capacity is projected to go up by 8.8% in 2014 and 16.2% in 2015, with wind power generation accounting for 4.7% of the US’ total power in 2015.

As for solar, utility-scale solar capacity is expected to double by the end of 2015 thanks to the addition of new plants mainly in California, while electricity production from such plants is seen to represent 0.6% of the country’s total power output next year.

EIA also guided for an average ethanol production of 927,000 barrels per day in 2014 and 933,000 barrels per day in 2015. Daily biodiesel production is anticipated to be 81,000 barrels in 2014 and 84,000 barrels in 2015.

Last but not least, the agency projected that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will climb by 1.1% in 2014 due to growing natural gas prices. However, emissions are seen to slip by 0.4% next year.

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