Accounting Methodology for Source Energy of Non-Combustible Renewable Electricity Generation

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1333047· OSTI ID:1333047

Donohoo-Vallett, Paul ^[1]

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1. US Department of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)

As non-combustible sources of renewable power (wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal) do not consume fuel, the “source” (or “primary”) energy from these sources cannot be accounted for in the same manner as it is for fossil fuel sources. The methodology chosen for these technologies is important as it affects the perception of the relative size of renewable source energy to fossil energy, affects estimates of source-based building energy use, and overall source energy based metrics such as energy productivity. This memo reviews the methodological choices, outlines implications of each choice, summarizes responses to a request for information on this topic, and presents guiding principles for the U.S. Department of Energy, (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to use to determine where modifying the current renewable source energy accounting method used in EERE products and analyses would be appropriate to address the issues raised above.

• Research Organization: US Department of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Analysis (EI-30)
• OSTI ID: 1333047
• Report Number(s): DOE/EE--1488; 7521
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
geothermal
hydro
non-combustible
renewable
solar
wind