Renewable energy accounted for 20 percent of U.S. capacity in 2015
Huge increase seen in power generated by renewable sources
Renewable energy sources became a bigger part of the energy equation in the U.S. in 2015, accounting for about 20 percent of all capacity.
According to a recent report form the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), electricity generation from renewable sources has seen a 57 percent increase from 2008 to 2015.
#Renewableenergy = 20% of US 2015 power fleet, 57% increase over 2008 #Factbook https://t.co/2lFqDMMU5c pic.twitter.com/04990dEhOD
— BCSE Clean Energy (@BCSECleanEnergy) February 5, 2016
Wind power & solar power
An estimated 8.5GW of wind power and and estimated 7.3GW of solar power was installed in the U.S. in 2015, according to the BCSE.
These numbers represent a 65 percent year-over-year increase for wind power and a 13 percent year-over-year increase for solar photovoltaic (PV).
Hydro power leads the way
Overall, renewable energy sources now account for about 20 percent of U.S. capacity. According to the BCSE report, hydroelectric sources account for nearly half of this renewable power.
Wind follows hydro as the second-highest producing renewable technology, and has grown threefold in capacity since 2008 — 25GW capacity in 2008 to 75GW at the end of 2015.
Solar grew to a total capacity of 28GW at the end of 2015, trailing both hydro power and wind power, but is growing the fastest in the bunch on a year-over-year level.
Source → Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE)TRIPLE PLAY: CO2 reductions, cost savings & economic growth. American #cleanenergy scores big in 2015. pic.twitter.com/cRNT8cSroL
— BCSE Clean Energy (@BCSECleanEnergy) February 5, 2016
