Renewable energy excursions: Supporting analysis for the National Energy Strategy
The analysis undertaken for the development of the National Energy Strategy (NES) examines several potential energy supply and demand scenarios over the period 1990-2030. Two primary documents useful to the analysis were (1) a compendium of renewable energy technology costs and performance data, and (2) a white paper prepared by a Department of Energy Interlaboratory Team. The first report describes the cost and performance assumptions used for the renewable technologies and the second report contains projections of hydropower and liquid fuels that were used as exogenous inputs to the projections described in this report. The two fundamental questions that were addressed are: (1) How much energy might be derived from renewable sources by 2030, under existing laws and regulations and (2) By how much might that contribution be reasonably increased through acceleration in cost and performance improvements of renewable technologies and regulatory changes to foster the development of hydropower The Excursion does not explicitly consider the effects of tax credits or other financial incentives for renewable energy forms or other programs or events that would change the costs of conventional fuels. Also, neither the Reference Case nor the Excursion considers the reasons for the improvement in renewable energy technology costs and performance. These improvements could be the result of an acceleration in historical trends, expanded research and development efforts, or technological breakthroughs. All forecasts are subject to a high degree of uncertainty, especially in the mid- and long-term. Both the Reference and Excursion forecasts assume rapid declines in the costs of the various renewable technologies. These declines in conjunction with rapid escalation of natural gas and oil prices lead to optimistic forecasts of renewable energy use. 11 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs. (JF)
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6020346
- Report Number(s):
- SR/NES-90-04; ON: DE91009202
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Electricity supply: Supporting analysis for the National Energy Strategy
Grid Planning Impacts of Hydropower Growth and Decline
Related Subjects
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
299000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
ALCOHOL FUELS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
ETHANOL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
HEAT
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
METHANOL FUELS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
PAYBACK PERIOD
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
POWER
POWER PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR WATER HEATING
SOLID WASTES
SPACE HEATING
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WASTES
WATER HEATING
WIND POWER PLANTS
WOOD FUELS
WOOD WASTES
WOOD-FUEL POWER PLANTS