Renewable Energy

There’s Even More You Should Know About Renewable Energy

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy can offer inexhaustible power generated by the natural processes of wind, sun, water, plant growth, and heat from the earth being converted into power, steam and heat. Collectively, the energy captured by these technologies is referred to as renewable energy. Renewable energy has contributed reliable electric power to Californians since the late 1970s.

Solar

Solar power offers multiple applications, from powering traffic lights to heating water. Solar technologies include: photovoltaic cells, which are often mounted on rooftops and convert sunlight directly into useable energy; solar concentrators that use mirrors to focus the sun’s light and generate intense heat, which turns water to steam and generates electricity in the process; and solar thermal heating devices such as solar water heaters and even solar ovens.

Wind

Wind power captures the energy of air currents using turbine blades. As the blades rotate, electricity is generated. Constant innovations in wind technology have made this one of the most pervasive forms of renewable technology. Wind power ranges from large wind "farms" consisting of multiple turbines that are several stories high, to "small wind" systems that individuals can install in their backyards.

Geothermal

Geothermal power uses heat from below the earth’s surface to produce electricity or heat buildings and water systems. Geothermal power produces little to no air pollution and is extremely reliable during the lifetime of the power plant. Geothermal applications cover a range of use, from small-scale geothermal heat pumps used in homes, to large-scale power plants that provide electricity.

How Much Electricity Does Renewable Energy Provide to California?

Renewable energy (geothermal, wind, and solar) provided an average of 11.4 percent of all electricity generated in California during the 15-year period from 1985 to 1999. The largest source was geothermal energy, averaging 7.3 percent over the 15-year period. Next was biomass at 2.6 percent, wind at 1.2 percent, and solar at 0.3 percent. This is enough electricity to power more than 3.5 million California homes.

Renewable Energy Projects in California

Geothermal energy is currently California’s largest source of non-hydro renewable electricity. There are 14 areas in California where geothermal energy is used to make electricity. The main areas are the Geysers area north of San Francisco, areas near Lassen Volcanic National Park, the Mammoth Lakes area, the Coso Hot Springs area in Inyo County, and the Imperial Valley in Southern California. The Geysers area near Santa Rosa is the largest geothermal development in the world, with a capacity of over 1,100 megawatts (MW).

Though Pacific Northwest Laboratory ranks California 17th in total wind resources, California currently has the most wind power up and running of any state in the U.S. The major developed wind energy areas in California are Altamont Pass (550 MW), Pacheco Pass (16 MW), San Gorgonio Pass (350 MW), Solano County (64 MW), and Tehachapi (620 MW).

The largest single photovoltaic (PV) installation in California is the Sacramento Municipal Utility District's (SMUD) 2.3 MW facility at Rancho Seco, the former nuclear power plant. California also gets energy from solar thermal generating plants. The parabolic trough solar electric generating stations (SEGS) in California's Mojave Desert have a combined capacity of over 400 MW, and have been producing power and undergoing continuous research, testing and upgrades since 1984.

Benefits of Renewable Energy

Geothermal power alone saves California approximately 2.5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually–the equivalent emissions from driving an average passenger car 6.3 billion miles a year. Wind and solar photovoltaics systems installed on homes and businesses reduce the need for power from polluting fuels, especially during peak hours of energy usage. Solar thermal and geothermal heating technologies reduce the amount of energy needed to heat water and drive industrial processes, again reducing the use of polluting fuels.

Renewable Energy in California: Renewable Portfolio Standard

The American Lung Association of California supports the establishment of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which is a market-based mechanism that gradually increases the portion of electricity produced through renewable resources. The RPS requires that an increasing percentage of each electricity provider’s resource portfolio come from renewable energy. The RPS creates a minimum commitment to a sustainable energy future. It would build on and enhance the investments already made in renewable energy.

An RPS standard that guarantees 20 percent of consumers’ electricity comes from clean, stable renewable energy would reduce electric bills, natural gas use, and power plant emissions, as well as foster economic development.

Resources

American Wind Energy Association
www.awea.org

California Biomass Energy Alliance
www.calbiomass.org

California Energy Commission
www.energy.ca.gov

California Solar Energy Industries Association
www.calseia.org

Information in this fact sheet was provided by the

Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology
www.crest.org

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