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[Updated 2023] Top 25 Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates for a Sustainable Coexistence

Malvika Varma

The Mother   Earth  is struggling to keep pace with the rising energy demands because of the exponential rise in population over the past few decades. Therefore, there is a need to push our energy systems from conventional to more sustainable means on a war-footing. Human activities are overburdening our atmosphere with each passing day and have accelerated the need for renewable energy development across the globe.

The intervention of humans is disrupting the earth’s natural course of adaptation, causing many climatic changes and environmental deterioration. The outcome is a web of significant and detrimental ramifications, from more damaging, more frequent storms to drought, sea-level rise, global warming, carbon emission, ozone layer depletion, and extinction of flora and fauna. Immediate actions are needed to change our energy systems, which must be prompt and proactive.

To do this in organized manner, it is important to know all about the latest clen technologies. Access the world’s best 20 clean technology templates with a click here.

"We can create a more sustainable, cleaner, and  safer  world by making wiser energy choices." – Robert Alan Silverstein .

Embracing renewable energy is the one solution that dominates every discussion on environmental conservation. Going green and renewable is cost-effective, and the panacea will likely work.

Adopting green renewable energy is the most crucial action we can take to reduce environmental damage. Renewable energy is also called green and clean energy and comes from natural resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower, which are abundant and constantly replenished. Harnessing natural resources to conserve energy must be widely practiced in all possible domains.

In the wake of preserving our planet, here are the Top 25  Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates  designed by SlideTeam professionals. Download these pre-designed renewable energy PowerPoint presentations and promote the use of alternative energy.

Top 25 Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates To Download 

Template 1: Renewable Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Use this complete deck in 80 slides to showcase your expertise as a green energy power plant setting up and servicing firm and educate your clients, investors, and audience on why investment in renewable energy is the future. Highlight your successful projects and your mission as a green energy service provider. The Why to invest in green energy is also explained on two fronts; ONE, in terms of problems with traditional energy sources, and SECOND, emphasizing the economic viability of green energy. This template clearly distinguishes between GREEN, CLEAN, and RENEWABLE power to give you the edge and share tips (yes, do not use these interchangeably). This comparison is made in a tabular format on the parameters of energy sources used, whether they are ‘renewable’ (as per industry standard), and their environmental impact. For instance, renewable energy does impact the atmosphere, even as it employs natural resources as fuel. The working and benefits of types of green energy follow in considerable detail. The types of green energy you can illustrate your expertise on are:  Solar power, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy (we also explain the components of a geothermal plant). Introduction to Biomass Energy and What are Biofuels is also covered. Remember, this knowledge is expert-curated and answers the HOW-TO aspect rather than merely theoretical. For instance, a single slide explains the working of a wind turbine. The cost and maintenance of each plant are also highlighted, with a 30-60-90 Day Plan concluding this life-changing experience for industry professionals. We finally conclude with a roadmap to set up a green energy plant, detailing steps like the contract, implementation planning, site preparation, etc. The provided dashboard lets you summarize the metrics associated with going green regarding business benefits and analysis. Download now and reap a rich harvest from your Go-Green efforts.

Download Renewable Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Template 2: Industrial Shift to Renewable Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

This PPT Presentation addresses the industry’s major pain points of optimizing energy consumption and reducing annual electricity bills; shifting to solar power is the solution. Start with your energy consumption analysis, where usage by the resource is highlighted well and showcases your expertise in handling such a project. The energy utilization rate is also graphically illustrated in this section, akin to planning for the significant shift to another power source. The presentation template also lists ‘renewable technologies we can adopt’ as an option for the audience to consider, with a table on electricity cost overview of differing technologies following this slide. The How-to-guide also lists solar technology types before taking you through regulatory considerations that help you arrive at a decision. Then, we arrive at the business end of going GREEN (solar in this case) with details about the proposed power plant outlined like proposed capacity, project cost and duration, etc. We also state the expected outcomes. Then, the most critical part of your path-breaking initiative comes in the form of a decision-making checklist for the solar project (included with this template). This checklist is under the three heads of inverter selection; mounting structure selection, and PV Module selection. An ideal execution schedule is part of this beautiful complete deck. Slides on operational maintenance are next. Then, record building-wise planned capacity based on use in our templates. Our slide on electricity bill-saving forecasting takes the cake to ensure your clients and stakeholders are sufficiently impressed. End with a study of the risk and mitigation strategies, barriers, and solutions for solar energy applications and performance tracking dashboards. A well-designed Meet out Team template, and additional slides round off this delectable compendium of information that will save you thousands of dollars a year

Download Industrial shift to renewable energy PowerPoint presentation slides

Template 3: Application of Latest Renewable Energy Trends to Improve Market Share

Renewable energy is such a sunrise sector that evaluating growth opportunities can be a game-changer for businesses wanting to carve a niche. This PPT Presentation is a step toward increasing the market share, visibility, and even the green footprint of your business. Using this template, evaluate growth opportunities on the four evaluation criteria of competitive advantage, financial benefits, strategic fit, and growth potential against growth options. Get a feel of the offshore wind expansion strategy as well. Ultimately, the renewable energy model will follow the three steps of Economies of Scale leading to lower costs, maintaining and improving market share, before you, as a business, create your niche in manufacturing contracts. Technically, the business world names it a Feel/Sense the Breeze Strategy when the plan is to expand (bet big on) wind as a renewable source. Then, this deck also develops a timeline for activities to move toward storage technology launch for wind energy produced. At some time, the business model has to consider the diversification of demand, economies of scale, and reliable growth. The key performance indicators on company revenue, return on investment, performance ratio, wind energy levels, employees, and profitability is also mapped. This presentation template can also build an estimated market share and a renewable energy dashboard. The about our team, financials, and timeline templates are part of additional slides.   Download this template to learn that renewable energy is about the environment and a business tool to create value and market share.

Download Application of latest renewable energy trends to improve market share case competition complete deck

Template 4: Windmills Renewable Energy Science PowerPoint Templates

The wind is one of the resources which can be harnessed and put into use because it is available in abundance. The government can promote the wind energy application with this amazingly designed PowerPoint template. Statistics of wind energy production, consumption, resources required and other important details can be effectively illustrated with this completely editable green energy PowerPoint theme. Wind energy farms can also employ this pre-designed PPT background to highlight the different services available.

Template 5: Smart Grid Various Architectures and Applications About Renewable Energy and Modern

Download Various Architectures And Applications About Renewable Energy PowerPoint Template

Applications of green renewable energy are enormous and the research on them is still going on. Explain the concept of renewable energy and its implementation in making our lives and planet cleaner by incorporating this infographic PowerPoint template. The application of smart grid technology for public facilities, electric vehicles, smart houses, solar power plants, hydropower plants, factories, and other such places can be elaborated on with our informative PowerPoint presentation. Green Renewable Energy Templates are customizable and easy to incorporate.

Template 6: Green Energy PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Download Green Energy PowerPoint Presentation

Children play a crucial role in shaping the future and hence educating them about renewable resources is a must. School authorities can organize camps for students and encourage them to look for innovative solutions to combat global issues regarding the exploitation of limited resources. Environmentalists can lay emphasis on educating young minds with our visually appealing renewable energy PowerPoint theme.  

Template 7: PPTx Green Plant Design Bulbs Nature Protection Flat PowerPoint Design

Download Green Plant Design Bulbs Nature Protection PowerPoint Template

Scientists and environmentalists are working day and night to find new and innovative methods to solve the issue of energy crises. This attractive PowerPoint template is a perfect fit to showcase their research and findings in an effective manner. Acknowledge the great intellectuals who have contributed to making the world a cleaner and greener place by highlighting their names and achievements using our PowerPoint background. The idea of nurturing green energy thoughts can be effectively communicated with our striking renewable energy PPT presentation. 

Template 8: Renewable Energy Icon With Windmill and Solar Panel

Download Renewable Energy Icon With Windmill And Solar Panel PowerPoint Template

The establishment of the windmill and solar energy farms can be promoted by the Government by introducing this renewable energy resources PowerPoint template. The requirements for setting up renewable energy harnessing plants can be discussed by utilizing our attractive green energy PowerPoint presentation. Inexhaustible energy and its benefits can be discussed with this editable PPT theme.

Template 9: Energy Crisis Covering Fossil Fuel Renewable Energy Improve Infrastructure

Download Energy Crisis Covering Fossil Fuel Renewable Energy PowerPoint Template

Energy crises and the ways to deal with them can be discussed with the audience using this energy management PowerPoint template. Simple tips such as saving energy, less reliance on fossil fuels, and improved energy infrastructure can be conveyed to the masses in an effective way by employing our attractive green energy PowerPoint presentation. The significance of conserving natural resources can be highlighted with our professionally designed infographic PPT layout.

Template 10: Smart Grid Quality Efficiency Energy Generation Storage Options Power Distribution Demand

Download Smart Grid Quality Efficiency Energy PowerPoint Template

Explain how a smart grid delivers electricity from the power plant to your home, factory, and other applications by incorporating this energy conservation PowerPoint template. Electrical departments can create awareness about using appliances that consume less energy and hence promote green energy using this PPT theme. An efficient and reliable end-to-end intelligent delivery system can be advertised with this striking editable PPT background.

Template 11: Green Energy Power Source Recycle System PPT Icons Graphics

Download Green Energy Power Source PowerPoint Template

Mother Earth is exploited for its resources for quite a long time and is now in grave condition. Awareness regarding grave issues like global warming and ozone layer depletion can be conveyed with this energy-saving icon PowerPoint template. Our pre-designed renewable energy PowerPoint theme can be utilized for different purposes like seminars, conferences, and projects for discussing the need for cleaner energy methods. The message of using renewable energy can be communicated with this nature saving PPT theme.  

Template 12: Green Energy Level Indication With Solar Cell Plate PowerPoint Template

Download Green Energy Level Indication With Solar Cell Plate PowerPoint Template

A solar cell is an electrical device that converts light energy into electrical energy directly which makes it a very good source and it can be explained to the audience using this PowerPoint template. Our visually attractive renewable energy PowerPoint theme can be used for explaining the mechanism of solar cells by scientists and students for seminars, conferences, and projects. The set up required for solar cell plates can be discussed by manufacturing companies with this pre-designed PPT presentation. 

Template 13: Recycle Environment Icon Showing Green Earth in Recycle Frame

Download Recycle Environment Icon PowerPoint Template

Recycling the resources not only reduces the waste generated but also makes the Earth cleaner and greener. This versatile renewable energy PowerPoint template can be employed for spreading awareness. Schools, colleges, and offices can download this amazingly designed green energy PowerPoint theme to list out the necessary steps to be incorporated into the lifestyle. The urgency to reduce the burden on the planet can be highlighted with this recycle icon PPT background.

Template 14: Paper Recycling Factory Showing the Process of Waste Paper Recycling

Download Paper Recycling Factory Renewable Energy PowerPoint Template

Recycling paper can meet many demands which can be discussed in detail with this inexhaustible PowerPoint template. Plant design engineers can incorporate this paper recycling plant PowerPoint theme to highlight the designing aspects of the plant. The establishment of green buildings can be promoted by architects with the help of this professionally designed PPT layout. The paper recycling industry can incorporate our energy conservation PowerPoint presentation to discuss the new methods to save energy during the process.

Template 15: Solar Energy Introduction PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Download Solar Energy Introduction PowerPoint Presentation

This renewable energy PPT complete deck explains the concept of solar energy. The usefulness of this solar energy PowerPoint template is immense as it can be employed to convey the message about increasing demand for solar energy to students, your customers, and employees. Discuss the mechanism and benefits of solar energy with our content ready PowerPoint presentation. Stats of energy consumption of the country can be elaborated using the graphs in our editable solar energy ppt PowerPoint layout. 

Template 16: Green Factory Showing Green Energy Industry With Ecology and Environment

Download Green Factory Showing Green Energy Industry PowerPoint Template

Factories are a major source of pollution. The need and methods for converting the manufacturing process to more green energy efficient sources can be illustrated with this PowerPoint template. Companies can download this green factory PowerPoint presentation to showcase the renewable energy methods adopted in their factory. Green Renewable Energy Templates are advantageous for NGOs and environmentalists.

Template 17: Eco System Shown by Earth Leaves and Buildings

Download Eco System Shown By Earth Leaves Renewable Energy PowerPoint Template

This amazingly designed renewable energy PowerPoint presentation is perfect for convincing the audience to go for green energy. Download this pre-designed PowerPoint background for any event related to the environment and climatic changes. Companies can employ this ecosystem PowerPoint theme to advertise their products that use renewable energy for functioning. Enterprise can also highlight the practices followed by employees to minimize waste and hence save energy. Students can incorporate this PPT layout to present their project on inexhaustible resources for projects and seminars. 

Template 18: Globe With Green Area Green Energy Production Flat PowerPoint Design

Download Globe With Green Area Green Renewable Energy Production PowerPoint Template

Employ this PowerPoint template to display the vegetation of the world and discuss the positive impacts of afforestation and renewable resources. Encourage students to adopt a lifestyle that does not harm the environment. The awareness campaigns can include this renewable energy PowerPoint presentation to display statistics of plantation and scientific inventions to preserve natural resources. Environment day celebrations seminars can incorporate this PPT theme to list out eco-friendly activities. 

Template 19: Go Green Environment Nature Powerpoint Templates

Download Go Green Environment Nature PowerPoint Template

Environmentalists can organize campaigns to illustrate the significance of using renewable energy rather than exhaustible resources with our professionally designed PowerPoint template. Enterprises can utilize our awe-inspiring PPT background to showcase the clean and green practices of their company. Government policies about ecosystem preservation can be highlighted with our green energy PowerPoint presentation.  

Template 20: Image of Biogas Plant in the Fields

Download Biogas Plant In The Fields Renewable Energy PowerPoint Template

Biogas can be used as an alternative energy source which can be discussed in detail by our infographic renewable source PowerPoint template. Download this clean energy PowerPoint theme to advertise the biogas plants and list out the requirements for its setup. Teachers can educate students about the processes involved in converting biogas for consumption with the help of our PPT presentation. Green Renewable Energy Templates are easy to download and portray the agenda effectively.

Template 21: Steps for a Company to Become Eco-Friendly

Download Steps For Company To Become Eco-Friendly PowerPoint Template

Creating awareness about the exploitation of resources at the corporate level is a big step and often proves to be a successful one. NGOs and environmentalists can download this informative PPT theme to educate professionals about the importance of their contribution to save the natural habitat. Small changes in the manufacturing procedure of products, make a huge impact which can be discussed effectively with this content ready PowerPoint presentation.

Template 22: Green Technology Helping Growth and Environment Protection

Download Green Technology Helping Growth PowerPoint Template

Green technology is responsible for making a better environment for animals, plants, and human beings. It saves from burdening earth with the never-ending demands of fossil fuels and also creates job opportunities in this sector which can be explained with the help of this informative PowerPoint template. With the assistance of this editable PowerPoint layout, environmentalists can elaborate on the advantages of green technology. 

Template 23: Green Technology Positive Impact and Advantages

Download Green Technology Positive Impact And Advantages PowerPoint Template

The impact of green technology and its various applications can be illustrated with this content ready renewable energy PowerPoint template. You can bring the spotlight on the positive impacts such as low toxicity, energy efficiency, waste minimization, improved ecosystem, and proper utilization of inexhaustible resources by incorporating our pre-designed PPT layout. You can also employ this renewable energy PowerPoint presentation to your seminars and conferences.

Template 24: Energy Crisis Defines Increasing Demand Power Wastage Water Shortage

Download Energy Crisis Defines Increasing Demand PowerPoint Template 

The energy crisis is a global issue and ways to tackle it are being researched extensively. The negative impacts of exploitation of non-renewable energy are affecting all the spheres of life. Discuss the consequences of the overutilization of exhaustible resources with the help of this green energy PowerPoint template. Illustrate the increasing demand for energy and the alternatives to it with the help of this amazingly designed PowerPoint theme. Students can incorporate this informative PPT background for addressing the issues mankind is facing and is about to face in the future due to negligence towards the imbalanced ecosystem. 

Template 25: Water Sun and Leaf Displaying Renewable Energy

Download Water Sun And Leaf Displaying Renewable Energy PowerPoint Template

Renewable energy sources are found in abundance and harnessing them adequately can solve many problems. Highlight the need and the ways of using renewable energy for meeting the requirements by employing this striking PowerPoint template. The color palette used here instantly grabs attention and hence is excellent for utilizing it for environmental awareness campaigns and activities. Address how every person can contribute to a greener and cleaner planet by explaining to the audience about renewable energy with this engaging PowerPoint presentation. Green Renewable Energy Templates are a must to leave a great impact on the audience.

“To truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy.” – Barack Obama

The major challenge for mankind in today’s time is empowering the planet with newer, greener technologies. Download these Top 25 Green Renewable Energy PowerPoint Templates to leave the fossil fuel age behind by adopting more eco-friendly means, t hus saving your future generations.

So, use renewable energy to renew a happy future!

FAQs on Renewable Energy

What are five renewable energy sources.

Renewable energy is an endless source of energy. Its five sources are hydroelectric, wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy. There is also 6th kind of energy called bio-energy. It is called renewable as nature continuously replenishes it. Even though renewable energy systems employ natural resources as fuel, they can adversely impact the atmosphere. There is also a viewpoint that says that, ultimately, all renewable energy is a byproduct of the Sun's energies.

What are 4 main types of renewable energy?

The four main types of renewable energy are solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. The Sun is a renewable energy resource as the energy that hits the Earth in one hour is more than what the world population consumes in a year. Wind energy is a byproduct of the Sun's uneven heating of the atmosphere and is abundantly available. It will remain a renewable resource for as long as the Sun's rays heat the Earth. Hydropower generates electricity from the natural flow of flowing water; it accounts for 37% of the entire renewable power output in the US. Finally, geothermal energy is derived from the Earth’s subsurface and is located inside rocks and fluid center.

Why is it called renewable energy?

In renewable energy, the critical phrase is RE+NEW. Hence, the name renewable energy refers to such kind of power obtained from sources that are renewed constantly and naturally. Also called sustainable energy, renewable power works on the principle of infinite energy sources at work due to the renewable nature of the raw material. Going green entails increasing financing for solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects. It also means developing technology to harness renewable energy sources better, making these more inexpensive and accessible.

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• News & Updates

The Future of Sustainable Energy

26 June, 2021

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Building a sustainable energy future calls for leaps forward in both technology and policy leadership. State governments, major corporations and nations around the world have pledged to address the worsening climate crisis by transitioning to 100% renewable energy over the next few decades. Turning those statements of intention into a reality means undertaking unprecedented efforts and collaboration between disciplines ranging from environmental science to economics.

There are highly promising opportunities for green initiatives that could deliver a better future. However, making a lasting difference will require both new technology and experts who can help governments and organizations transition to more sustainable practices. These leaders will be needed to source renewables efficiently and create environmentally friendly policies, as well as educate consumers and policymakers. To maximize their impact, they must make decisions informed by the most advanced research in clean energy technology, economics, and finance.

Current Trends in Sustainability

The imperative to adopt renewable power solutions on a worldwide scale continues to grow even more urgent as the global average surface temperature hits historic highs and amplifies the danger from extreme weather events . In many regions, the average temperature has already increased by 1.5 degrees , and experts predict that additional warming could drive further heatwaves, droughts, severe hurricanes, wildfires, sea level rises, and even mass extinctions.

In addition, physicians warn that failure to respond to this dire situation could unleash novel diseases : Dr. Rexford Ahima and Dr. Arturo Casadevall of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine contributed to an article in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that explained how climate change could affect the human body’s ability to regulate its own temperature while bringing about infectious microbes that adapt to the warmer conditions.

World leaders have accepted that greenhouse gas emissions are a serious problem that must be addressed. Since the Paris Agreement was first adopted in December 2015, 197 nations have signed on to its framework for combating climate change and preventing the global temperature increase from reaching 2 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels.

Corporate giants made their own commitments to become carbon neutral by funding offsets to reduce greenhouse gases and gradually transitioning into using 100% renewable energy. Google declared its operations carbon neutral in 2017 and has promised that all data centers and campuses will be carbon-free by 2030. Facebook stated that it would eliminate its carbon footprint in 2020 and expand that commitment to all the organization’s suppliers within 10 years. Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vehicles and has promised that its sprawling logistics operations will arrive at net-zero emissions by 2040.

Despite these promising developments, many experts say that nations and businesses are still not changing fast enough. While carbon neutrality pledges are a step in the right direction, they don’t mean that organizations have actually stopped using fossil fuels . And despite the intentions expressed by Paris Agreement signatories, total annual carbon dioxide emissions reached a record high of 33.5 gigatons in 2018, led by China, the U.S., and India.

“The problem is that what we need to achieve is so daunting and taxes our resources so much that we end up with a situation that’s much, much worse than if we had focused our efforts,” Ferraro said.

Recent Breakthroughs in Renewable Power

An environmentally sustainable infrastructure requires innovations in transportation, industry, and utilities. Fortunately, researchers in the private and public sectors are laying the groundwork for an energy transformation that could make the renewable energy of the future more widely accessible and efficient.

Some of the most promising areas that have seen major developments in recent years include:

Driving Electric Vehicles Forward

The technical capabilities of electric cars are taking great strides, and the popularity of these vehicles is also growing among consumers. At Tesla’s September 22, 2020 Battery Day event, Elon Musk announced the company’s plans for new batteries that can be manufactured at a lower cost while offering greater range and increased power output .

The electric car market has seen continuing expansion in Europe even during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks in large part to generous government subsidies. Market experts once predicted that it would take until 2025 for electric car prices to reach parity with gasoline-powered vehicles. However, growing sales and new battery technology could greatly speed up that timetable .

Cost-Effective Storage For Renewable Power

One of the biggest hurdles in the way of embracing 100% renewable energy has been the need to adjust supply based on demand. Utilities providers need efficient, cost-effective ways of storing solar and wind power so that electricity is available regardless of weather conditions. Most electricity storage currently takes place in pumped-storage hydropower plants, but these facilities require multiple reservoirs at different elevations.

Pumped thermal electricity storage is an inexpensive solution to get around both the geographic limitations of hydropower and high costs of batteries. This approach, which is currently being tested , uses a pump to convert electricity into heat so it can be stored in a material like gravel, water, or molten salts and kept in an insulated tank. A heat engine converts the heat back into electricity as necessary to meet demand.

Unlocking the Potential of Microgrids

Microgrids are another area of research that could prove invaluable to the future of power. These systems can operate autonomously from a traditional electrical grid, delivering electricity to homes and business even when there’s an outage. By using this approach with power sources like solar, wind, or biomass, microgrids can make renewable energy transmission more efficient.

Researchers in public policy and engineering are exploring how microgrids could serve to bring clean electricity to remote, rural areas . One early effort in the Netherlands found that communities could become 90% energy self-sufficient , and solar-powered microgrids have now also been employed in Indian villages. This technology has enormous potential to change the way we access electricity, but lowering costs is an essential step to bring about wider adoption and encourage residents to use the power for purposes beyond basic lighting and cooling.

Advancing the Future of Sustainable Energy

There’s still monumental work to be done in developing the next generation of renewable energy solutions as well as the policy framework to eliminate greenhouse gases from our atmosphere. An analysis from the International Energy Agency found that the technologies currently on the market can only get the world halfway to the reductions needed for net-zero emissions by 2050.

To make it the rest of the way, researchers and policymakers must still explore possibilities such as:

• Devise and implement large-scale carbon capture systems that store and use carbon dioxide without polluting the atmosphere
• Establish low-carbon electricity as the primary power source for everyday applications like powering vehicles and heat in buildings
• Grow the use of bioenergy harnessed from plants and algae for electricity, heat, transportation, and manufacturing
• Implement zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells as a way to power transportation and utilities

However, even revolutionary technology will not do the job alone. Ambitious goals for renewable energy solutions and long-term cuts in emissions also demand enhanced international cooperation, especially among the biggest polluters. That’s why Jonas Nahm of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies has focused much of his research on China’s sustainable energy efforts. He has also argued that the international community should recognize China’s pivotal role in any long-term plans for fighting climate change.

As both the leading emitter of carbon dioxide and the No. 1 producer of wind and solar energy, China is uniquely positioned to determine the future of sustainability initiatives. According to Nahm, the key to making collaboration with China work is understanding the complexities of the Chinese political and economic dynamics. Because of conflicting interests on the national and local levels, the world’s most populous nation continues to power its industries with coal even while President Xi Jinping advocates for fully embracing green alternatives.

China’s fraught position demonstrates that economics and diplomacy could prove to be just as important as technical ingenuity in creating a better future. International cooperation must guide a wide-ranging economic transformation that involves countries and organizations increasing their capacity for producing and storing renewable energy.

It will take strategic thinking and massive investment to realize a vision of a world where utilities produce 100% renewable power while rows of fully electric cars travel on smart highways. To meet the challenge of our generation, it’s more crucial than ever to develop leaders who understand how to apply the latest research to inform policy and who can take charge of globe-spanning sustainable energy initiatives .

About the MA in Sustainable Energy (online) Program at Johns Hopkins SAIS

Created by Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies faculty with input from industry experts and employers, the Master of Arts in Sustainable Energy (online) program is tailored for the demands of a rapidly evolving sector. As a top-11 global university, Johns Hopkins is uniquely positioned to equip graduates with the skills they need to confront global challenges in the transition to renewable energy.

The MA in Sustainable Energy curriculum is designed to build expertise in finance, economics, and policy. Courses from our faculty of highly experienced researchers and practitioners prepare graduates to excel in professional environments including government agencies, utility companies, energy trade organizations, global energy governance organizations, and more. Students in the Johns Hopkins SAIS benefit from industry connections, an engaged network of more than 230,000 alumni, and high-touch career services.

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Introduction to Renewable Energy

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Fast Facts View our summary of key facts and information. ( Printable PDF, 270 KB )

Before You Watch Our Lecture Maximize your learning experience by reviewing these carefully curated readings we assign to our students.

Our Lecture Watch the Stanford course lecture.

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Fast Facts About Renewable Energy

Principle Energy Uses: Electricity, Heat Forms of Energy: Kinetic, Thermal, Radiant, Chemical

The term “renewable” encompasses a wide diversity of energy resources with varying economics, technologies, end uses, scales, environmental impacts, availability, and depletability. For example, fully “renewable” resources are not depleted by human use, whereas “semi-renewable” resources must be properly managed to ensure long-term availability. The most renewable type of energy is energy efficiency, which reduces overall consumption while providing the same energy service. Most renewable energy resources have significantly lower environmental and climate impacts than their fossil fuel counterparts.

The data in these Fast Facts do not reflect two important renewable energy resources: traditional biomass, which is widespread but difficult to measure; and energy efficiency, a critical strategy for reducing energy consumption while maintaining the same energy services and quality of life. See the Biomass and Energy Efficiency pages to learn more.

Significance

14% of world 🌎 9% of US 🇺🇸

Electricity Generation

30% of world 🌎 21% of US 🇺🇸

Global Renewable Energy Uses

Electricity 65% Heat 26% Transportation 9%

Global Consumption of Renewable Electricity Change

Increase: ⬆ 33% (2017 to 2022)

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency measures such as LED light bulbs reduce the need for energy in the first place

Renewable Resources

Wind Solar Ocean

Semi-Renewable Resources

Hydro Geothermal Biomass

Renewable Energy Has Vast Potential to Meet Global Energy Demand

Solar >1,000x global demand Wind ~3x global demand

Share of Global Energy Demand Met by Renewable Resources

Hydropower 7% Wind 3% Solar 2% Biomass <2%  

Share of Global Electricity Generation Met by Renewable Resources

Hydropower 15% Wind 7% Solar 5% Biomass & Geothermal <3%

Global Growth

Hydropower generation increase ⬆6% Wind generation increase ⬆84% Solar generation increase ⬆197% Biofuels consumption increase ⬆23% (2017-2022)

Largest Renewable Energy Producers

China 34% 🇨🇳 US 10% 🇺🇸 of global renewable energy

Highest Penetration of Renewable Energy

Norway 72% 🇳🇴 of the country’s primary energy is renewable

(China is at 16%, the US is at 11%)

Largest Renewable Electricity Producers

China 31% 🇨🇳 US 11% 🇺🇸 of global renewable electricity

Highest Penetration of Renewable Electricity

Albania, Bhutan, CAR, Lesotho, Nepal, & Iceland 100%

Iceland, Ethiopia, Paraguay, DRC, Norway, Costa Rica, Uganda, Namibia, Eswatini, Zambia, Tajikistan, & Sierra Leone > 90% of the country’s primary electricity is renewable

(China is at 31%, the US is at 22%)

Share of US Energy Demand Met by Renewable Resources

Biomass 5% Wind 2% Hydro 1% Solar 1%

Share of US Electricity Generation Met by Renewable Resources

Wind 10% Hydropower 6% Solar 3% Biomass 1%

US States That Produce the Most Renewable Electricity

Texas 21% California 11% of US renewable energy production

US States With Highest Penetration of Renewable Electricity

Vermont >99% South Dakota 84% Washington 76% Idaho 75% of state’s total generation comes from renewable fuels

Renewable Energy Expansion Policies

The Inflation Reduction Act continued tax credits for new renewable energy projects in the US.

Production Tax Credit (PTC)

Tax credit of $0.0275/kWh of electricity produced at qualifying renewable power generation sites

Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Tax credit of 30% of the cost of a new qualifying renewable power generation site

To read more about the credit qualifications, visit this EPA site .

*LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) - price for which a unit of electricity must be sold for system to break even

Important Factors for Renewable Site Selection

• Resource availability
• Environmental constraints and sensitivities, including cultural and archeological sites
• Transmission infrastructure
• Power plant retirements
• Transmission congestion and prices
• Electricity markets
• Load growth driven by population and industry
• Policy support
• Land rights and permitting
• Competitive and declining costs of wind, solar, and energy storage
• Lower environmental and climate impacts (social costs) than fossil fuels
• Expansion of competitive wholesale electricity markets
• Governmental clean energy and climate targets and policies
• Corporate clean energy targets and procurement of renewable energy
• No fuel cost or fuel price volatility
• Retirements of old and/or expensive coal and nuclear power plants
• Most renewable resources are abundant, undepletable
• Permitting hurdles and NIMBY/BANANA* concerns
• Competition from subsidized fossil fuels and a lack of price for their social cost (e.g., price on carbon)
• Site-specific resources means greater need to transport energy/electricity to demand
• High initial capital expenditure requirements required to access fuel cost/operating savings
• Intermittent resources
• Inconsistent governmental incentives and subsidies
• Managing environmental impacts to the extent that they exist

*NIMBY - not in my backyard; BANANA - build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything

Climate Impact: Low to High

• Solar, wind, geothermal, and ocean have low climate impacts with near-zero emissions; hydro and biomass can have medium to high climate impact
• Hydro: Some locations have greenhouse gas emissions due to decomposing flooded vegetation
• Biomass: Some crops require significant energy inputs, land use change can release carbon dioxide and methane

Environmental Impact: Low to High

• Most renewable energy resources have low environmental impacts, particularly relative to fossil fuels; some, like biomass, can have more significant impacts
• No air pollution with the exception of biomass from certain feedstocks
• Can have land and habitat disruption for biomass production, solar, and hydro
• Potential wildlife impacts from wind turbines (birds and bats)
• Modest environmental impacts during manufacturing, transportation, and end of life

Updated January 2024

Before You Watch Our Lecture on Introduction to Renewable Energy

We assign videos and readings to our Stanford students as pre-work for each lecture to help contextualize the lecture content. We strongly encourage you to review the Essential reading below before watching our lecture on  Introduction to Renewable Energy . Include the Optional and Useful readings based on your interests and available time.

• The Sustainable Energy in America 2023 Factbook (Executive Summary pp. 5-11) . Bloomberg New Energy Finance. 2023. (7 pages) Provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the American energy transformation.

Optional and Useful

• Renewables 2023 Global Status Report (Global Overview pp. 11-40) . REN21. 2023. (30 pages).  Documents the progress made in the renewable energy sector and highlights the opportunities afforded by a renewable-based economy and society.

Our Lecture on Introduction to Renewable Energy

This is our Stanford University Understand Energy course lecture that introduces renewable energy. We strongly encourage you to watch the full lecture to gain foundational knowledge about renewable energy and important context for learning more about specific renewable energy resources. For a complete learning experience, we also encourage you to review the Essential reading we assign to our students before watching the lecture.

Presented by: Kirsten Stasio , Adjunct Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University; CEO, Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) Recorded on:  November 16, 2022   Duration: 52 minutes

Table of Contents

(Clicking on a timestamp will take you to YouTube.) 00:00 What Does "Renewable" Mean? 12:56 What Role Do Renewables Play In Our Energy Use? 20:29  What Factors Affect Renewable Energy Project Development? 52:13 Conclusion

Lecture slides available upon request .

Additional Resources About Renewable Energy

Stanford university.

• Precourt Institute for Energy Renewable Energy , Energy Efficiency
• Stanford Energy Club
• Energy Modeling Forum
• Sustainable Stanford
• Sustainable Finance Initiative
• Mark Jacobson - Renewable energy
• Michael Lepech - Life-cycle analysis
• Leonard Ortolano - Environmental and water resource planning
• Chris Field - Climate change, land use, bioenergy, solar energy
• David Lobell - Climate change, agriculture, biofuels, land use
• Sally Benson - Climate change, energy, carbon capture and storage

Government and International Organizations

• International Energy Agency (IEA) Renewables Renewables 2022 Repor .
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)
• US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Renewable Energy Explained
• US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Energy Kids Renewable Energy
• US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Today in Energy Renewables

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

• Carnegie Institution for Science  Biosphere Sciences and Engineering
• The Solutions Project

Other Resources

• REN21: Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
• REN21 Renewables 2023 Global Status Report Renewables in Energy Supply
• BloombergNEF (BNEF)
• Renewable Energy World
• World of Renewables
• Energy Upgrade California
• Windustry Community Wind Toolbox

Next Topic: Energy Efficiency Other Energy Topics to Explore

Fast Facts Sources

• Energy Mix (World 2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Energy Mix (US 2022): US Energy Information Agency (EIA). Total Energy: Energy Overview, Table 1.3 . 
• Electricity Mix (World 2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Electricity Mix (US 2022): US Energy Information Agency (EIA). Total Energy: Electricity, Table 7.2a.  
• Global Solar Use (2022): REN21. Renewables 2023 Global Status Report: Renewables in Energy Supply , page 42. 2023
• Global Consumption of Renewable Electricity Change (2017-2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Renewable Energy Potential: Perez & Perez. A Fundamental Look at Energy Reserves for the Planet . 2009
• Share of Global Energy Demand (2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Share of Global Electricity Demand (2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Global Growth (2017-2022): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Largest Renewable Energy Producers (World 2022): International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023 . 2023.
• Highest Penetration Renewable Energy (World 2022): Our World in Data. Renewable Energy . 2023.
• Largest Renewable Electricity Producers (World 2022):   Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy . 2023.
• Highest Penetration Renewable Electricity (World 2022): Our World in Data. Renewable Energy . 2023.
• Share of US Energy Demand (2022): Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electric Power Monthly. 2023.
• Share of Electricity Generation (2022): Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electric Power Monthly. 2023.
• States with Highest Generation (2022): Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electric Power Monthly. 2023.
• States with Highest Penetration (2021): Energy Information Administration (EIA). State Profile and Energy Estimates. 2023.
• LCOE of US Renewable Resources: Lazard. LCOE. April 2023.
• LCOE of US Non Renewable Resources: Lazard. LCOE. April 2023.

More details available on request . Back to Fast Facts

• ENVIRONMENT

Renewable energy, explained

Solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal power can provide energy without the planet-warming effects of fossil fuels.

In any discussion about climate change , renewable energy usually tops the list of changes the world can implement to stave off the worst effects of rising temperatures. That's because renewable energy sources such as solar and wind don't emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming .

Clean energy has far more to recommend it than just being "green." The growing sector creates jobs , makes electric grids more resilient, expands energy access in developing countries, and helps lower energy bills. All of those factors have contributed to a renewable energy renaissance in recent years, with wind and solar setting new records for electricity generation .

For the past 150 years or so, humans have relied heavily on coal, oil, and other fossil fuels to power everything from light bulbs to cars to factories. Fossil fuels are embedded in nearly everything we do, and as a result, the greenhouse gases released from the burning of those fuels have reached historically high levels .

As greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere that would otherwise escape into space, average temperatures on the surface are rising . Global warming is one symptom of climate change, the term scientists now prefer to describe the complex shifts affecting our planet’s weather and climate systems. Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas , and a range of other impacts .

Of course, renewables—like any source of energy—have their own trade-offs and associated debates. One of them centers on the definition of renewable energy. Strictly speaking, renewable energy is just what you might think: perpetually available, or as the U.S. Energy Information Administration puts it, " virtually inexhaustible ." But "renewable" doesn't necessarily mean sustainable, as opponents of corn-based ethanol or large hydropower dams often argue. It also doesn't encompass other low- or zero-emissions resources that have their own advocates, including energy efficiency and nuclear power.

Types of renewable energy sources

Hydropower: For centuries, people have harnessed the energy of river currents, using dams to control water flow. Hydropower is the world's biggest source of renewable energy by far, with China, Brazil, Canada, the U.S., and Russia the leading hydropower producers . While hydropower is theoretically a clean energy source replenished by rain and snow, it also has several drawbacks.

FREE BONUS ISSUE

Large dams can disrupt river ecosystems and surrounding communities , harming wildlife and displacing residents. Hydropower generation is vulnerable to silt buildup, which can compromise capacity and harm equipment. Drought can also cause problems. In the western U.S., carbon dioxide emissions over a 15-year period were 100 megatons higher than they normally would have been, according to a 2018 study , as utilities turned to coal and gas to replace hydropower lost to drought. Even hydropower at full capacity bears its own emissions problems, as decaying organic material in reservoirs releases methane.

Dams aren't the only way to use water for power: Tidal and wave energy projects around the world aim to capture the ocean's natural rhythms. Marine energy projects currently generate an estimated 500 megawatts of power —less than one percent of all renewables—but the potential is far greater. Programs like Scotland’s Saltire Prize have encouraged innovation in this area.

Wind: Harnessing the wind as a source of energy started more than 7,000 years ago . Now, electricity-generating wind turbines are proliferating around the globe, and China, the U.S., and Germany are the leading wind energy producers. From 2001 to 2017 , cumulative wind capacity around the world increased to more than 539,000 megawatts from 23,900 mw—more than 22 fold.

Some people may object to how wind turbines look on the horizon and to how they sound, but wind energy, whose prices are declining , is proving too valuable a resource to deny. While most wind power comes from onshore turbines, offshore projects are appearing too, with the most in the U.K. and Germany. The first U.S. offshore wind farm opened in 2016 in Rhode Island, and other offshore projects are gaining momentum . Another problem with wind turbines is that they’re a danger for birds and bats, killing hundreds of thousands annually , not as many as from glass collisions and other threats like habitat loss and invasive species, but enough that engineers are working on solutions to make them safer for flying wildlife.

You May Also Like

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Solar: From home rooftops to utility-scale farms, solar power is reshaping energy markets around the world. In the decade from 2007 and 2017 the world's total installed energy capacity from photovoltaic panels increased a whopping 4,300 percent .

In addition to solar panels, which convert the sun's light to electricity, concentrating solar power (CSP) plants use mirrors to concentrate the sun's heat, deriving thermal energy instead. China, Japan, and the U.S. are leading the solar transformation, but solar still has a long way to go, accounting for around two percent of the total electricity generated in the U.S. in 2017. Solar thermal energy is also being used worldwide for hot water, heating, and cooling.

Biomass: Biomass energy includes biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel , wood and wood waste, biogas from landfills, and municipal solid waste. Like solar power, biomass is a flexible energy source, able to fuel vehicles, heat buildings, and produce electricity. But biomass can raise thorny issues.

Critics of corn-based ethanol , for example, say it competes with the food market for corn and supports the same harmful agricultural practices that have led to toxic algae blooms and other environmental hazards. Similarly, debates have erupted over whether it's a good idea to ship wood pellets from U.S. forests over to Europe so that it can be burned for electricity. Meanwhile, scientists and companies are working on ways to more efficiently convert corn stover , wastewater sludge , and other biomass sources into energy, aiming to extract value from material that would otherwise go to waste.

Geothermal: Used for thousands of years in some countries for cooking and heating, geothermal energy is derived from the Earth’s internal heat . On a large scale, underground reservoirs of steam and hot water can be tapped through wells that can go a mile deep or more to generate electricity. On a smaller scale, some buildings have geothermal heat pumps that use temperature differences several feet below ground for heating and cooling. Unlike solar and wind energy, geothermal energy is always available, but it has side effects that need to be managed, such as the rotten egg smell that can accompany released hydrogen sulfide.

Ways to boost renewable energy

Cities, states, and federal governments around the world are instituting policies aimed at increasing renewable energy. At least 29 U.S. states have set renewable portfolio standards —policies that mandate a certain percentage of energy from renewable sources, More than 100 cities worldwide now boast at least 70 percent renewable energy, and still others are making commitments to reach 100 percent . Other policies that could encourage renewable energy growth include carbon pricing, fuel economy standards, and building efficiency standards. Corporations are making a difference too, purchasing record amounts of renewable power in 2018.

Wonder whether your state could ever be powered by 100 percent renewables? No matter where you live, scientist Mark Jacobson believes it's possible. That vision is laid out here , and while his analysis is not without critics , it punctuates a reality with which the world must now reckon. Even without climate change, fossil fuels are a finite resource, and if we want our lease on the planet to be renewed, our energy will have to be renewable.

Related Topics

• SUSTAINABILITY
• RENEWABLE ENERGY
• GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
• SOLAR POWER
• HYDROELECTRIC POWER
• CLIMATE CHANGE

Activists fear a new threat to biodiversity—renewable energy

How the Ukraine war is accelerating Germany's renewable energy transition

We took the Great American Road Trip—in electric cars

What’s at stake at COP26—the crucial global climate summit

Climate change goals and oil production are clashing in the U.S.

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November 1, 2009

12 min read

A Plan to Power 100 Percent of the Planet with Renewables

Wind, water and solar technologies can provide 100 percent of the world's energy, eliminating all fossil fuels. Here's how

By Mark Z. Jacobson & Mark A. Delucchi

In December leaders from around the world will meet in Copenhagen to try to agree on cutting back greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. The most effective step to implement that goal would be a massive shift away from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources. If leaders can have confidence that such a transformation is possible, they might commit to an historic agreement. We think they can. A year ago former vice president Al Gore threw down a gauntlet: to repower America with 100 percent carbon-free electricity within 10 years. As the two of us started to evaluate the feasibility of such a change, we took on an even larger challenge: to determine how 100 percent of the world’s energy, for all purposes, could be supplied by wind, water and solar resources, by as early as 2030. Our plan is presented here.

Scientists have been building to this moment for at least a decade, analyzing various pieces of the challenge. Most recently, a 2009 Stanford University study ranked energy systems according to their impacts on global warming, pollution, water supply, land use, wildlife and other concerns. The very best options were wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and hydroelectric power—all of which are driven by wind, water or sunlight (referred to as WWS). Nuclear power, coal with carbon capture, and ethanol were all poorer options, as were oil and natural gas. The study also found that battery-electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles recharged by WWS options would largely eliminate pollution from the transportation sector.

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Our plan calls for millions of wind turbines, water machines and solar installations. The numbers are large, but the scale is not an insurmountable hurdle; society has achieved massive transformations before. During World War II, the U.S. retooled automobile factories to produce 300,000 aircraft, and other countries produced 486,000 more. In 1956 the U.S. began building the Interstate Highway System, which after 35 years extended for 47,000 miles, changing commerce and society.

Is it feasible to transform the world’s energy systems? Could it be accomplished in two decades? The answers depend on the technologies chosen, the availability of critical materials, and economic and political factors.

Clean Technologies Only Renewable energy comes from enticing sources: wind, which also produces waves; water, which includes hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal energy (water heated by hot underground rock); and sun, which includes photovoltaics and solar power plants that focus sunlight to heat a fluid that drives a turbine to generate electricity. Our plan includes only technologies that work or are close to working today on a large scale, rather than those that may exist 20 or 30 years from now.

To ensure that our system remains clean, we consider only technologies that have near-zero emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their entire life cycle, including construction, operation and decommissioning. For example, when burned in vehicles, even the most ecologically acceptable sources of ethanol create air pollution that will cause the same mortality level as when gasoline is burned. Nuclear power results in up to 25 times more carbon emissions than wind energy, when reactor construction and uranium refining and transport are considered. Carbon capture and sequestration technology can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants but will increase air pollutants and will extend all the other deleterious effects of coal mining, transport and processing, because more coal must be burned to power the capture and storage steps. Similarly, we consider only technologies that do not present significant waste disposal or terrorism risks.

In our plan, WWS will supply electric power for heating and transportation—industries that will have to revamp if the world has any hope of slowing climate change. We have assumed that most fossil-fuel heating (as well as ovens and stoves) can be replaced by electric systems and that most fossil-fuel transportation can be replaced by battery and fuel-cell vehicles. Hydrogen, produced by using WWS electricity to split water (electrolysis), would power fuel cells and be burned in airplanes and by industry. 

Plenty of Supply Today the maximum power consumed worldwide at any given moment is about 12.5 trillion watts (terawatts, or TW), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency projects that in 2030 the world will require 16.9 TW of power as global population and living standards rise, with about 2.8 TW in the U.S. The mix of sources is similar to today’s, heavily dependent on fossil fuels. If, however, the planet were powered entirely by WWS, with no fossil-fuel or biomass combustion, an intriguing savings would occur. Global power demand would be only 11.5 TW, and U.S. demand would be 1.8 TW. That decline occurs because, in most cases, electrification is a more efficient way to use energy. For example, only 17 to 20 percent of the energy in gasoline is used to move a vehicle (the rest is wasted as heat), whereas 75 to 86 percent of the electricity delivered to an electric vehicle goes into motion.

Even if demand did rise to 16.9 TW, WWS sources could provide far more power. Detailed studies by us and others indicate that energy from the wind, worldwide, is about 1,700 TW. Solar, alone, offers 6,500 TW. Of course, wind and sun out in the open seas, over high mountains and across protected regions would not be available. If we subtract these and low-wind areas not likely to be developed, we are still left with 40 to 85 TW for wind and 580 TW for solar, each far beyond future human demand. Yet currently we generate only 0.02 TW of wind power and 0.008 TW of solar. These sources hold an incredible amount of untapped potential.

The other WWS technologies will help create a flexible range of options. Although all the sources can expand greatly, for practical reasons, wave power can be extracted only near coastal areas. Many geothermal sources are too deep to be tapped economically. And even though hydroelectric power now exceeds all other WWS sources, most of the suitable large reservoirs are already in use.

The Plan: Power Plants Required Clearly, enough renewable energy exists. How, then, would we transition to a new infrastructure to provide the world with 11.5 TW? We have chosen a mix of technologies emphasizing wind and solar, with about 9 percent of demand met by mature water-related methods. (Other combinations of wind and solar could be as successful.)

Wind supplies 51 percent of the demand, provided by 3.8 million large wind turbines (each rated at five megawatts) worldwide. Although that quantity may sound enormous, it is interesting to note that the world manufactures 73 million cars and light trucks every year . Another 40 percent of the power comes from photovoltaics and concentrated solar plants, with about 30 percent of the photovoltaic output from rooftop panels on homes and commercial buildings. About 89,000 photovoltaic and concentrated solar power plants, averaging 300 megawatts apiece, would be needed. Our mix also includes 900 hydroelectric stations worldwide, 70 percent of which are already in place.

Only about 0.8 percent of the wind base is installed today. The worldwide footprint of the 3.8 million turbines would be less than 50 square kilometers (smaller than Manhattan). When the needed spacing between them is figured, they would occupy about 1 percent of the earth’s land, but the empty space among turbines could be used for agriculture or ranching or as open land or ocean. The nonrooftop photovoltaics and concentrated solar plants would occupy about 0.33 percent of the planet’s land. Building such an extensive infrastructure will take time. But so did the current power plant network. And remember that if we stick with fossil fuels, demand by 2030 will rise to 16.9 TW, requiring about 13,000 large new coal plants, which themselves would occupy a lot more land, as would the mining to supply them.

The Materials Hurdle The scale of the WWS infrastructure is not a barrier. But a few materials needed to build it could be scarce or subject to price manipulation.

Enough concrete and steel exist for the millions of wind turbines, and both those commodities are fully recyclable. The most problematic materials may be rare-earth metals such as neodymium used in turbine gearboxes. Although the metals are not in short supply, the low-cost sources are concentrated in China, so countries such as the U.S. could be trading dependence on Middle Eastern oil for dependence on Far Eastern metals. Manufacturers are moving toward gearless turbines, however, so that limitation may become moot.

Photovoltaic cells rely on amorphous or crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indium selenide and sulfide. Limited supplies of tellurium and indium could reduce the prospects for some types of thin-film solar cells, though not for all; the other types might be able to take up the slack. Large-scale production could be restricted by the silver that cells require, but finding ways to reduce the silver content could tackle that hurdle. Recycling parts from old cells could ameliorate material difficulties as well.

Three components could pose challenges for building millions of electric vehicles: rare-earth metals for electric motors, lithium for lithium-ion batteries and platinum for fuel cells. More than half the world’s lithium reserves lie in Bolivia and Chile. That concentration, combined with rapidly growing demand, could raise prices significantly. More problematic is the claim by Meridian International Research that not enough economically recoverable lithium exists to build anywhere near the number of batteries needed in a global electric-vehicle economy. Recycling could change the equation, but the economics of recycling depend in part on whether batteries are made with easy recyclability in mind, an issue the industry is aware of. The long-term use of platinum also depends on recycling; current available reserves would sustain annual production of 20 million fuel-cell vehicles, along with existing industrial uses, for fewer than 100 years.

Smart Mix for Reliability A new infrastructure must provide energy on demand at least as reliably as the existing infrastructure. WWS technologies generally suffer less downtime than traditional sources. The average U.S. coal plant is offline 12.5 percent of the year for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Modern wind turbines have a down time of less than 2 percent on land and less than 5 percent at sea. Photovoltaic systems are also at less than 2 percent. Moreover, when an individual wind, solar or wave device is down, only a small fraction of production is affected; when a coal, nuclear or natural gas plant goes offline, a large chunk of generation is lost.

The main WWS challenge is that the wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine in a given location. Intermittency problems can be mitigated by a smart balance of sources, such as generating a base supply from steady geothermal or tidal power, relying on wind at night when it is often plentiful, using solar by day and turning to a reliable source such as hydroelectric that can be turned on and off quickly to smooth out supply or meet peak demand. For example, interconnecting wind farms that are only 100 to 200 miles apart can compensate for hours of zero power at any one farm should the wind not be blowing there. Also helpful is interconnecting geographically dispersed sources so they can back up one another, installing smart electric meters in homes that automatically recharge electric vehicles when demand is low and building facilities that store power for later use.

Because the wind often blows during stormy conditions when the sun does not shine and the sun often shines on calm days with little wind, combining wind and solar can go a long way toward meeting demand, especially when geothermal provides a steady base and hydroelectric can be called on to fill in the gaps.

As Cheap as Coal The mix of WWS sources in our plan can reliably supply the residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors. The logical next question is whether the power would be affordable. For each technology, we calculated how much it would cost a producer to generate power and transmit it across the grid. We included the annualized cost of capital, land, operations, maintenance, energy storage to help offset intermittent supply, and transmission. Today the cost of wind, geothermal and hydroelectric are all less than seven cents a kilowatt-hour (¢/kWh); wave and solar are higher. But by 2020 and beyond wind, wave and hydro are expected to be 4¢/kWh or less.

For comparison, the average cost in the U.S. in 2007 of conventional power generation and transmission was about 7¢/kWh, and it is projected to be 8¢/kWh in 2020. Power from wind turbines, for example, already costs about the same or less than it does from a new coal or natural gas plant, and in the future wind power is expected to be the least costly of all options. The competitive cost of wind has made it the second-largest source of new electric power generation in the U.S. for the past three years, behind natural gas and ahead of coal.

Solar power is relatively expensive now but should be competitive as early as 2020. A careful analysis by Vasilis Fthenakis of Brookhaven National Laboratory indicates that within 10 years, photovoltaic system costs could drop to about 10¢/kWh, including long-distance transmission and the cost of compressed-air storage of power for use at night. The same analysis estimates that concentrated solar power systems with enough thermal storage to generate electricity 24 hours a day in spring, summer and fall could deliver electricity at 10¢/kWh or less.

Transportation in a WWS world will be driven by batteries or fuel cells, so we should compare the economics of these electric vehicles with that of internal-combustion-engine vehicles. Detailed analyses by one of us (Delucchi) and Tim Lipman of the University of California, Berkeley, have indicated that mass-produced electric vehicles with advanced lithium-ion or nickel metal-hydride batteries could have a full lifetime cost per mile (including battery replacements) that is comparable with that of a gasoline vehicle, when gasoline sells for more than $2 a gallon.

When the so-called externality costs (the monetary value of damages to human health, the environment and climate) of fossil-fuel generation are taken into account, WWS technologies become even more cost-competitive.

Overall construction cost for a WWS system might be on the order of $100 trillion worldwide, over 20 years, not including transmission. But this is not money handed out by governments or consumers. It is investment that is paid back through the sale of electricity and energy. And again, relying on traditional sources would raise output from 12.5 to 16.9 TW, requiring thousands more of those plants, costing roughly $10 trillion, not to mention tens of trillions of dollars more in health, environmental and security costs. The WWS plan gives the world a new, clean, efficient energy system rather than an old, dirty, inefficient one.

Political Will Our analyses strongly suggest that the costs of WWS will become competitive with traditional sources. In the interim, however, certain forms of WWS power will be significantly more costly than fossil power. Some combination of WWS subsidies and carbon taxes would thus be needed for a time. A feed-in tariff (FIT) program to cover the difference between generation cost and wholesale electricity prices is especially effective at scaling-up new technologies. Combining FITs with a so-called declining clock auction, in which the right to sell power to the grid goes to the lowest bidders, provides continuing incentive for WWS developers to lower costs. As that happens, FITs can be phased out. FITs have been implemented in a number of European countries and a few U.S. states and have been quite successful in stimulating solar power in Germany.

Taxing fossil fuels or their use to reflect their environmental damages also makes sense. But at a minimum, existing subsidies for fossil energy, such as tax benefits for exploration and extraction, should be eliminated to level the playing field. Misguided promotion of alternatives that are less desirable than WWS power, such as farm and production subsidies for biofuels, should also be ended, because it delays deployment of cleaner systems. For their part, legislators crafting policy must find ways to resist lobbying by the entrenched energy industries.

Finally, each nation needs to be willing to invest in a robust, long-distance transmission system that can carry large quantities of WWS power from remote regions where it is often greatest—such as the Great Plains for wind and the desert Southwest for solar in the U.S.—to centers of consumption, typically cities. Reducing consumer demand during peak usage periods also requires a smart grid that gives generators and consumers much more control over electricity usage hour by hour.

A large-scale wind, water and solar energy system can reliably supply the world’s needs, significantly benefiting climate, air quality, water quality, ecology and energy security. As we have shown, the obstacles are primarily political, not technical. A combination of feed-in tariffs plus incentives for providers to reduce costs, elimination of fossil subsidies and an intelligently expanded grid could be enough to ensure rapid deployment. Of course, changes in the real-world power and transportation industries will have to overcome sunk investments in existing infrastructure. But with sensible policies, nations could set a goal of generating 25 percent of their new energy supply with WWS sources in 10 to 15 years and almost 100 percent of new supply in 20 to 30 years. With extremely aggressive policies, all existing fossil-fuel capacity could theoretically be retired and replaced in the same period, but with more modest and likely policies full replacement may take 40 to 50 years. Either way, clear leadership is needed, or else nations will keep trying technologies promoted by industries rather than vetted by scientists.

A decade ago it was not clear that a global WWS system would be technically or economically feasible. Having shown that it is, we hope global leaders can figure out how to make WWS power politically feasible as well. They can start by committing to meaningful climate and renewable energy goals now.

Note: This article was originally printed with the title, "A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030."

• Renewable Energy

What Is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy comes from unlimited, naturally replenished resources, such as the sun, tides, and wind. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space and water heating and cooling, and transportation.

Non-renewable energy, in contrast, comes from finite sources, such as coal, natural gas, and oil.

How Does Renewable Energy Work?

Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, the heat in the earth’s crust, sunlight, water, and wind, are natural resources that can be converted into several types of clean, usable energy:

Bioenergy Geothermal Energy Hydrogen and Other Renewable Fuels Hydropower Marine Energy Solar Energy Wind Energy

Learn the truth about clean energy.

Benefits of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy offers numerous economic, environmental, and social advantages. These include:

• Reduced carbon emissions and air pollution from energy production
• Enhanced reliability , security, and resilience of the power grid
• Job creation through the increased production and manufacturing of renewable energy technologies
• Increased U.S. energy independence
• Lower energy costs
• Expanded energy access for remote, coastal, or isolated communities.

Learn more about the advantages of wind energy , solar energy , bioenergy , geothermal energy , hydropower , and marine energy , and how the U.S. Department of Energy is working to modernize the power grid and increase renewable energy production.

Renewable Energy in the United States

Renewable energy generates over 20% of all U.S. electricity , and that percentage continues to grow. The following graphic breaks down the shares of total electricity production in 2022 among the types of renewable power: 

In 2022, annual U.S. renewable energy generation surpassed coal for the first time in history. By 2025, domestic solar energy generation is expected to increase by 75%, and wind by 11%. 

The United States is a resource-rich country with enough renewable energy resources to generate more than 100 times the amount of electricity Americans use each year.  Learn more about renewable energy potential in the United States.

Subscribe to stay up to date on the latest clean energy news from EERE.

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has three core divisions: Renewable Energy, Sustainable Transportation and Fuels, and Buildings and Industry. The Renewable Energy pillar comprises four technology offices:

Every American can advocate for renewable energy by becoming a Clean Energy Champion. Both small and large actions make a difference. Join the movement .

Advancing Renewable Energy in the United States

EERE offers funding for renewable energy research and development, as well as programs that support the siting of renewable energy , connection of renewable energy to the grid , and community-led energy projects . Find open funding opportunities and learn how to apply for funding .

The U.S. Department of Energy's 17 national laboratories conduct research and help bring renewable energy technologies to market. 

Renewable Energy at Home

Homeowners and renters can use clean energy at home by buying green power, installing renewable energy systems to generate electricity, or using renewable resources for water and space heating and cooling.

Before installing a renewable energy system, it's important to reduce your energy consumption and improve your home’s energy efficiency .

Visit Energy Saver to learn more about the use of renewable energy at home.

You may be eligible for federal and state tax credits if you install a renewable energy system in your home. Visit ENERGY STAR to learn about federal renewable energy tax credits for homeowners. For information on state incentives, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency .

Other Ways EERE Champions Clean Energy

Find clean energy jobs.

EERE is dedicated to building a clean energy economy, which means millions of new jobs in construction, manufacturing, and many other industries. Learn more about job opportunities in renewable energy:

Frank Russell

Aia, march harvard - associate professor emeritus - niehoff urban studio.

University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio 2728 Short Vine Street Cincinnati , Ohio 45220 Phone 513-403-2973 Email [email protected]

Professional Summary

Frank Russell, AIA, is an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Cincinnati where beginning in 1990 he provided instruction in Urban Design and Multi-Disciplinary Innovation. He served in executive roles for multiple research and design units including the DAAP Center for Urban Design, the DAAP Community Design Center, the Provost’s Niehoff Urban Studio, and the University-wide UC Forward program. In this capacity, he has promoted collaborative innovation among the university’s diverse disciplines and external partners through cross-disciplinary experiential learning. Russell is a registered practicing architect and principal of Russell Compton Architects. In private and public practice for more than thirty years, he has carried out numerous architecture projects (50+), urban design plans, and planning studies (20+).   A native of the city, Russell returned after professional work and graduate study to the University of Cincinnati in 1990 to establish the Center for Urban Design where he provided teaching, research, and community engagement. From 1996 he directed the UC Community Design Center, a state sponsored technical service unit. In 2002 Russell initiated the Provost sponsored University-wide Niehoff Urban Studio in partnership with the DAAP School of Architecture and Interior Design and the School of Planning. This studio, located off-campus in Over-the-Rhine and later in Corryville, served as a venue for credit bearing interdisciplinary coursework for students focused on issues relevant to the center city. The studio engaged a broad spectrum of community stakeholders with students and faculty in problem solving public education, research and design activity. The studio has worked in 34+ communities and in partnership with 159+ community based organizations. (see publications below for studio documentation)   Russell’s research has been published in Cities:the International Journal of Policy and Planning, Design Review:The Role of Aesthetic Environmental Quality in Planning, Activist Architecture:Philosophy and Practice of the Community Design Center, and he co-edited New Directions in Urban Public Housing. He has been the recipient of major grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the American Architectural Foundation/National Endowment for the Arts, and has directed the Midwest Regional Mayor’s Institute on City Design sponsored by the US Conference of Mayors. Russell has been recognized with honors from the University of Cincinnati, the AIA Cincinnati Design Awards, the Cincinnati Preservation Association, and the Community Development Corporations Association of Greater Cincinnati. Russell has served as a Commissioner of the Cincinnati Park Board and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and as past Chair of the Urban Design Committee of AIA Cincinnati. He has been a Trustee of the Cincinnati Zoo, the Mercantile Library, the Mill Creek Restoration Project, Gabriel’s Place, the Center for Closing the Health Gap, and the Over-the-Rhine Foundation.  Russell has been a committee member for the Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated, the Uptown Consortium, the Port Authority of Greater Cincinnati, Agenda 360, the Greater Cincinnati Food Policy Council, the City of Cincinnati Food Access Task Force, and the City of Cincinnati Healthy Living Task Force.   With formal study in Art History, Fine Art, Urban Design, and Architecture, Russell holds an A.B. Art from Vassar College (1983), studied drawing at the Art Student’s League and Fortman Fine Art Studios, Florence, Italy (1984) and received an urban design Internship at the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies, New York City (1985). He graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design (1989).

Research and Practice Interests

www.uc.edu/cdc

Research Support

Grant: #FY2003-1411-46 Investigators:Russell, Francis 07-01-2002 -10-31-2003 Ohio Arts Council Art in the Market 2002-03 Year 2 Role:PI $19,880.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #DCA 99-06 Investigators:Russell, Francis 06-01-1999 -02-11-2000 National Endowment for the Arts Mayor's Institute on City Design: Midwest Role:PI $44,968.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #FY2000-1438 # 46 Investigators:Russell, Francis 01-01-2000 -11-30-2000 Ohio Arts Council Findlay Market Art Project FY2000 Role:PI $24,256.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #OSP00171 Investigators:Russell, Francis 03-29-2000 -03-28-2001 Glendale, Village of Glendale Comprehensive Plan Role:PI $8,000.00 Closed Level:Local Government

Grant: #FY2001-1417 #46 Investigators:Russell, Francis 07-01-2000 -10-30-2001 Ohio Arts Council Findley Market Arts Project FY2001 Role:PI $25,638.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #OSP 01154 Investigators:Russell, Francis 02-15-2001 -09-30-2001 National Endowment for the Arts Mayor's Institute on City Design Role:PI $44,418.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #FY2002-1419-46 Investigators:Russell, Francis 07-01-2001 -10-30-2002 Ohio Arts Council Art in the Market 2002-03 Role:PI $21,225.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #65x1054 Investigators:Russell, Francis 10-01-1996 -06-30-2000 Ohio Board of Regents Findlay Market Community Design Center Role:PI $37,840.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #OSP98161 Investigators:Russell, Francis 09-01-1998 -10-15-1999 Cincinnati, City of Findlay Market Art Project 1999 Role:PI $3,000.00 Closed Level:Local Government

Grant: #FY2000-0213 Investigators:Russell, Francis 07-01-1999 -10-31-1999 Ohio Arts Council Findlay Market Art Project FY1999 Role:PI $2,000.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #DCA-UC Investigators:Russell, Francis 04-01-2009 -09-30-2010 Uptown Consortium, Inc. Uptown Consortium Planning and Support Grant Role:PI $20,000.00 Closed Level:Private Non-Profit

Grant: #SRS 006768 Investigators:Russell, Francis 09-01-2009 -08-31-2011 Department of Agriculture Community Food Program Role:PI $20,518.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #SRS007812 Investigators:Russell, Francis 09-01-2011 -03-31-2013 Local Initiatives Support Corporation Covington Center City Action Plan Role:PI $10,000.00 Active Level:Private Non-Profit

Grant: #Fixed Price SCA Investigators:Russell, Francis 01-07-2013 -12-31-2013 Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Cincinnati and Norther Ky Niehoff Urban Studio: Community Development and Transportation Role:PI $10,000.00 Active Level:Private Non-Profit

Grant: #SCA Investigators:Russell, Francis 08-22-2017 -12-15-2017 Standard Textile Co. Standard Textile Window Challenge Role:PI $10,000.00 Awarded Level:Industry

Grant: #SCA 2018-19 Investigators:Russell, Francis 08-27-2018 -12-31-2019 Uptown Consortium, Inc. Smart Transportation Network and Hub for the Uptown Innovation Corridor Role:PI $50,000.00 Awarded Level:Private Non-Profit

Grant: #Studio Collaboration Agreement Investigators:Russell, Francis 01-14-2019 -12-31-2019 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens Cincinnati Zoo Animal Enrichment Workshop Role:PI $5,000.00 Awarded Level:Private Non-Profit

Grant: #2020 Studio Collaboration Agreement_Zero Hunger Investigators:Russell, Francis 08-27-2019 -09-30-2020 Kroger Company Kroger Zero Hunger - Zero Waste Workshop Role:PI $10,000.00 Awarded Level:Industry

Publications

Published books.

Movement in the City: Bus Rapid Transit-Bike Rapid Transit

Urban Food and Quality of Life

(2006. ) The Over-the-Rhine Project .Cincinnati , University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio (Editor)

(2008. ) Housing and Community Development in Uptown .Cincinnati , University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio (Editor)

(2010. ) Great Streets and Gateways .Cincinnati , University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio (Editor)

(2010. ) Great Streets and Gateways - Envisioning a Sustainable Future for the Cincinnati Museum Center and its District .Cincinnati , University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio (Editor)

Place Matters-Covington Center City Action Plan

Movement in the City-Vision and Planning for the Wasson Way

Building Healthy & Resilient Places-Rethinking Burnet Woods

Annual Report Niehoff Urban Studio 2011

Contact Information

Academic - University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio 2728 Short Vine Street Cincinnati   Ohio, 45220 Phone: 513-403-2973 [email protected]

Assembly President announces first-ever ‘Sustainability Week’

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The President of the General Assembly on Tuesday announced the UN body’s inaugural Sustainability Week, encapsulating a series of high-level discussions and initiatives aimed at propelling the implementation of sustainable practices and to address pressing challenges.

To be held from 15 to 19 April, President Dennis Francis’ flagship initiative converges various mandated events into a singular, impactful week, elevating the discourse on such critical sectors as tourism, infrastructure, energy and transport.

“The Sustainability Week initiative is essentially designed to galvanise momentum around sustainability in a way that helps to supercharge implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ,” Mr. Francis told reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York.

He added that high-level participation is anticipated from Heads of States and Governments, sector-specific ministers and key UN officials.

Sustainability Week highlights

• 15 April : High-level thematic debate on debt sustainability and socioeconomic equality , highlighting the impact of surging debt on countries’ development trajectories
• 16 April : High-level thematic event on tourism , addressing unsustainable practices within the industry and launching a statistical framework for measuring sustainability
• 17 April : High-level meeting on sustainable transport , emphasising its importance in achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• 18 April : Informal dialogue on building global resilience and promoting sustainable development through infrastructure connectivity
• 19 April : Global stock taking on sustainable energy , reflecting on progress and shortcomings over the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All 2014-2024 and launching a call to action to accelerate implementation of SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy

Beyond the 2030 Agenda

Assembly President Francis also highlighted initiatives beyond the 2030 Agenda, including the Choose Sustainability campaign, which encourages stakeholders to adopt pledges and sustainability practices.

“I encourage all permanent missions, stakeholders and the media to adopt pledges to promote sustainability and to declare their support on social media while adopting sustainability practices,” he said.

For its part, his office is, among other things, working to phase out the use of roll-up banners throughout the General Assembly and to replace them with long-lasting, energy-efficient LED screens.

• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• General Assembly

First refuelling for Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP

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The FNPP includes two KLT-40S reactor units. In such reactors, nuclear fuel is not replaced in the same way as in standard NPPs – partial replacement of fuel once every 12-18 months. Instead, once every few years the entire reactor core is replaced with and a full load of fresh fuel.

The KLT-40S reactor cores have a number of advantages compared with standard NPPs. For the first time, a cassette core was used, which made it possible to increase the fuel cycle to 3-3.5 years before refuelling, and also reduce by one and a half times the fuel component in the cost of the electricity produced. The operating experience of the FNPP provided the basis for the design of the new series of nuclear icebreaker reactors (series 22220). Currently, three such icebreakers have been launched.

The Akademik Lomonosov was connected to the power grid in December 2019, and put into commercial operation in May 2020.

Electricity generation from the FNPP at the end of 2023 amounted to 194 GWh. The population of Pevek is just over 4,000 people. However, the plant can potentially provide electricity to a city with a population of up to 100,000. The FNPP solved two problems. Firstly, it replaced the retiring capacities of the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, which has been operating since 1974, as well as the Chaunskaya Thermal Power Plant, which is more than 70 years old. It also supplies power to the main mining enterprises located in western Chukotka. In September, a 490 km 110 kilovolt power transmission line was put into operation connecting Pevek and Bilibino.

Image courtesy of TVEL

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