Which Countries Use the Most Renewable Energy? By Percentage

Last week I posted a list of the 5 Countries that produce the most renewable energy.  Not suprisingly, the countries on the list tended to be large countries that also consumed the highest amounts of electricity.  In fact, three of the countries on the list were also in the top 5 Coal consumers.

While it is definately worth recognizing those countries for increasing the amount of renewable electricity generation in their country and worldwide, I thought (and readers agreed) that we should take a look at which countries produce the largest portion of their electricity from renewable sources.  In this way, we can see which countries have invested the most in setting up a sustainable energy future, regardless of size.  So, with that I give you the Top 5 Renewable Energy Producer’s by Percentage:

note:  This ranking was tough to determine, based on several different sources, with different classifications of renewable energy, different data sets, and different publish dates.  So if you disagree with a ranking, or think that I left out a country, comment and let me know!

We’ll start with #5 and count down in order to create some suspense.

#5.  Germany

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to any to see Germany make this list, with their declaration in 2011 that they will close all of their nuclear power plants by 2022.  Germany has become the worlds largest producer of solar power, while diversifying their energy portfolio with large portions of wind and biomass electricity as well.  As of 2011, Germany generated roughly 20% of their electricity from non-hydro renewable energy, 8% from wind, 8% from biomass, and 3% from solar.  Since then, the country has expanded solar production to account for close to 10% of their average annual electricity needs!

via csmonitor.com

Germany has acheived this through agressive subsidies and ‘feed in tariffs’, and it hasn’t been without criticism, but it certainly shows the country’s commitment to renewable energy and has made them a leader.

#4.  Spain

Spain has become one of the world leaders in wind power, and recently set the world record in wind electricity production.  In 2011, renewable energy accounted for 22.3% of Spain’s electricity production, with 15% coming from wind (now more like 20-25%), 3% from solar (now 5%) and 2% from biomass.

via nytimes.com

These recent increase could have placed them higher on the list, but the other entrants have been increasing the renewable portfolios as well.  It should be noted that Spain has added to their significant debt problem in building this infrastructure, but has also made strong investments for the future and placed them near the front of the pack for clean energy generation.

#3. Portugal

Portugal is another heavy hitter when it comes to wind production.  In 2011, wind accounted for 20% of the country’s electricity, added to biomass (5%), and some solar and wave production as well to bring their total renewable production to 25.3% of their electricity portfolio.

Wave Farm in Portugal
via inhabitat.com

Portugal had good reason to diversify their electricity generation:  In the past, the country depended on hydroelectricity for over half of their energy, but the output of those facilities varied greatly due to droughts.

#2. Iceland

Iceland is well known for its commitment towards sustainable practices, and has made good use of their unique resources.  The country is blessed/cursed with large amounts of volcanic activity (Eyjafjallajökull anyone?) that give the small island vast amounts of geothermal potential.  They harness this heat to produce steam and turn their generators, creating a whopping 26% of their electricity.

Eerie geothermal plant in Reykjavik
via nationalgeographic.com

Iceland might just have the most renewable energy production in the world when you take into account that they use the same geothermal resources to heat almost all of their homes.  If you count hydroelectricity, then the country is 100% renewable.  Not every country has the ability to harness geothermal the way Iceland does, but they are sure making the most of it!

and the country that gets the largest portion of their electricity from renewable sources is….

#1. Denmark

Denmark produces nearly half of their electricity from renewable sources (45%), making them the leader in renewable energy by percentage.  30% of their power comes from wind alone, and another 15% from biomass.  They aren’t stopping there either: the country plans to get half of their power from wind alone by 2021.

Offshore wind farm in Denmark
via dvice.com

Denmark is demonstrating to the world that wind power can in fact be a significant portion of a country’s electrical production.  By making use of offshore wind farms, there are reducing some of the land requirements and tapping offshore resources as well!

So there you have it.  Notice anything about the list?  All but one of the countries in the top 5 are European Union members.  That is due in large part to the European Commision’s goal of getting 20% of all power by 2020. (20 by 2020, catchy.)  As you can see, these five countries are already well beyond that goal, and helping to raise the average of their fellow EU members.  Another factor that can’t be ignored, however, is the fact that Europe has been dealing with much higher fossil fuel prices than other areas such as North America, and have much more incentive to embrace alternative energy sources.  As I mentioned, some of these countries have incuured significant debt in order to make these developments feasible, which can serve as a warning to others.  But, it’s also important to note that the citizens of these nations are willing to take on sometimes additional costs in order to make a major dent into the region’s carbon emmisions.  Let these countries serves as examples for the rest of us!

 

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/03/24/sunday-review/how-much-electricity-comes-from-renewable-sources.html?_r=0

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/08/germany-has-five-times-as-much-solar-power-as-the-u-s-despite-alaska-levels-of-sun/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Germany

 http://www.dvice.com/2013-4-2/25-percent-denmark-now-powered-exclusively-wind 

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/05/penetration-of-renewable-energy-in-selected-markets

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power_in_Iceland

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/geothermal-profile/

http://www.renewablesinternational.net/spain-sets-record-for-wind-power-production/150/537/60321/

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/index_en.htm

Related articles

• Wind power puts Iceland on the renewable energy map (icenews.is)
• Which Countries Use the Most Renewable Energy? (rethinkrenew.wordpress.com)
• Who’s leading – and who’s lagging – in the global renewables race? (reneweconomy.com.au)

Which Countries Use the Most Renewable Energy?

As we head into this Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to write a quick post listing the countries that use the most renewable energy.

That question is proving to be a little trickier than I thought.  First of all, what is renewable, what is not?  Some statistics include hydroelectric and biomass, others do not.  Some indexes forget to include geothermal.  In addition, is it better to look at total energy production from renewable sources, percentage of overall production, or actual consumption of renewable electricity?

For this post, let’s look at TOTAL energy production from renewable sources including Wind, Solar, Geothermal, and Biomass.  (Why did I leave out Hydroelectricity? Based on overall environmental impact.  More on that later.)

Given these parameters, lets look at the Top 5 Renewable Energy Producers by country:

1. The U.S.A.

‘merica.

That’s right, according to the Christian Science Monitor, as of 2011, the US produced more renewable energy than other nation, responsible for 24.7% of renewable energy production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Germany

Germany has made a huge commitment towards renewable energy, vowing to eliminate all nuclear by 2022.  In 2011, Germany accounted for 11.7% of global renewable energy.

 

 

 

 

3. Spain

Though it is a net importer of energy, Spain is known for its wind energy production, and the nation accounts for 7.8% of the world’s RE.

 

 

 

 

 

4. China

China has recently become the world’s largest energy consumer.  Although they are not known for clean energy policy, the are now leading the world in investment in renewable energy as well.       In 2011, they accounted for 7.6% of RE production.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Brazil

Another burgeoning country, Brazil is building a lot of renewable energy to keep up with growing demand.  Accounting for 5% of global RE production in 2011, the country has promised to power the 2014 World Cup with solar power.

 

 

 

 

Now wait a second, does this list look funny to anyone else?  The US? Brazil?  CHINA?  When I think about clean energy, these are NOT the names that generally occur to me.  While it is worth noting that these countries produce the highest amount of renewable energy, it is important to note that they are also some of the biggest CONSUMERS of energy overall.  Three of the countries from this list are also in the top 5 Coal consumers:  China (#1), The US (#2), and Germany (#5).

Next week we will look at which countries produce the highest percentage of their electricity from renewables.

Missouri’s Renewable Energy Standard Remains Intact!

Good news Missourians!

The State Legislative session has ended, without HB44 reaching the senate floor, thus preventing it from passing into law.

You may remember from my previous post that HB 44, introduced to the state House by Rep. Bart Korman, sought to count any and all hydroelectric facilities as renewable energy in Missouri.  This was a direct attack on Missouri’s Renewable Energy Standard, which passed by an overwhelming majority in 2008.  The RES set a goal of supply 15% of Missouri’s electricity from renewable sources by 2021.  The RES was supported by many different groups because of its promise to bring new jobs and money to the state, as well as clean up our environment.

HB 44 was introduced to weaken Missouri’s committment to renewable energy, passed through the Missouri House, and made it to committee in the Senate.  Luckily, that’s where it stopped.   The same diverse group that helped pass the RES in the first place stepped up to tell the Senate that the bill would not bring in any jobs, would not help the local economy, and would not move Missouri forward.  Our Senators heard, and although they did not hold a vote on the matter, they ended the session without a decision, effectively killing the bill.

Kudos to all who signed petitions, called congress people, and made your opinion heard.

Related articles

• Missourians: Help defeat HB 44! (rethinkrenew.wordpress.com)
• Renewable Energy Standards Face Challenge From Fossil Fuel Interests (huffingtonpost.com)

Ideal Energy Future

I’ve written a lot on this blog about different renewable energy resources, and the downsides to fossil fuels.  Obviously, I favor technology that would eliminate as much use of fossil fuels as possible.  If we aren’t using fossil fuels for our electricity and fueling our vehicles, then what ARE we using to sustain our voracious energy appetites in (my) ideal future?

Photovoltaic Solar systems for businesses and homes

As prices come down and efficiency goes up, more and more properties will install PV solar systems to generate a substantial portion of their electrical needs.  Businesses stand to gain the most, seeing as the commercial sector uses the most energy.  They can greatly reduce their overhead by installing solar, increase their profits, and boost their public image!

Wind Turbines on the grid

Wind farms are springing up across the country are starting to add a significant portion of electricity to the grid.  Wind farms will begin to produce the majority of grid tied electricity.

Storage

Now the big question:  If the solar and wind provide the majority of our electricity, what happens when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow?

This is THE question for a renewable future.  Sometimes renewables produce more electricity than needed, other times less.  People are working on all sorts of systems to store the excess electricity so that it can be used during other times when demand exceeds production.  Until this question is answered, we wont be able to completely ditch traditional power sources.

So what will these storage systems look like?  Giant battery packs? I hope not.

Batteries are expensive, have relatively short life spans, and use very harmful heavy metals.  Unless we invent a radically different battery technology (which would be great!) then I don’t think batteries will meet large-scale needs.

Some storage options are already in use, such as pumped storage hydroelectric systems like the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station in Missouri.  Which broke in 2005.  Dumping a billion gallons of water through the countryside.

Whoops.

One promising solution is Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems.  These systems compress air using excess electricity, then release it back, spinning a generator and producing electricity during high usage periods.

More energy storage info at Slate.

Fuel

Now that takes care of our future electricity production, but what will we fuel our vehicles with?  Do I dream of a future filled with electric cars and some sort of EV planes?  Nope.  As i previously stated, batteries (required for any electric vehicles) are heavy, expensive, use polluting heavy metals, and have limited lifespans.  In addition, electric vehicles require a long charge time to ‘refuel’.

I like hydrogen cars.

Hydrogen is an extremely potent fuel, and an extremely viable fuel for our future.  Most car manufactures already have at least one all hydrogen prototype.

The benefits of hydrogen fuel is that it has a lot of energy, yet when it burns it only puts off oxygen and water!  Also, it is relatively cheap to produce, needed only electricity and water.  Sure, we will need to build a fueling infrastructure  and there are some storage issues with hydrogen fuel.  But we are building towards great new things.

Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle (via Popsci.com)

By the way, the navy just tested a drone that flies for 48 hours straight on hydrogen fuel.

via rt.com

So that’s the idea, run our homes on solar and wind power, store extra power with air, and run our vehicles on hydrogen produced by clean electricity.  Will that rid us of fossil fuels for good?  Unfortunately not.  We will still need our precious plastics after all.  But a huge step forward, on to the next wave.

Related articles

• Compressing air for renewable energy storage (earthsky.org)
• Storing Renewable Energy: Key To An All-Renewables Future (earthtechling.com)
• Renewable Energy? Why Not! Part 5 – Geography (rethinkrenew.wordpress.com)

Think you know energy?

Take the Christian Science Monitor quiz! Coal production, shale oil, solar, which country uses what?  I got a 16.  What about you?

An Ominous Milestone

We have recently passed a foreboding, ominous milestone:

Our atmosphere has reached the highest level of carbon in 5 million years.

(picture and more info at the Independent)

Researchers have recorded CO2 levels of over 400 parts per million, a level not seen on Earth for 5 million years.

We all know that rising atmospheric carbon levels are leading climate change, which could cause all manor of global catastrophes, but what exactly does this benchmark mean?

It means that we have returned to a carbon level not seen on this planet since a time long before we existed as a species, when there was no ice on the Arctic Ocean, and there were jungles across Canada.

Scary thought, huh?

Renewable Energy? Why Not! pt 6

More common arguments against renewable energy and rebuttals:

6.  Wind Turbines kill birds

Ok, this one makes me laugh a little.  Yes, some birds are killed by flying into wind turbines.  They also fly into windows on buildings.  Are we going to stop using windows now?

I feel that this argument is a cheap shot at environmentalists, trying to pull their bleeding heart strings.  Surely, someone crusading to save the environment wouldn’t advocate a technology that kills animals, right?

Well, it turns out that automobiles and high voltage lines kill more birds than turbines do.  And many companies take steps to make sure birds avoid turbines, including using UV paint and burying transmission lines.  

How many animals are poisoned by pollution from coal/gas/nuclear plants?

With any new technology, we need to be careful about its implementation.  With wind energy, one of the biggest implementation concerns is placement.  Developers are now making sure that wind farms are not on migration routes for birds, making sure they have minimal impact on wildlife.  This is just one of several important factors in placement, including air turbulence, soil conditions, and noise.

More info about wind power here.

Renewable Energy? Why Not! Part 5 – Geography

More of common arguments against renewable energy, and why they aren’t right

5. Solar/Wind power doesn’t work in my area

It’s true that some areas are better than others for renewable energy.  After all, when the fuel is sunshine or wind, places that get more of those resources will produce more electricity.  But you don’t have to live in Arizona to use solar power.  In fact, most of the US is blessed with plentiful sunlight making solar a viable power source for most of the country, all the way from Houston to Minneapolis.  Maps here at WindSolarEnergy.org

 

Wind resources are less ubiquitous.  You need an area with constant, substantial wind, but not too strong.  Wind turbines can’t be safely used at high wind speeds.  But, wind turbines work better when hooked to the grid rather than in someone’s backyard, meaning that they don’t need to be located nearby.  In Missouri, people all over the state benefit from clean efficient wind  electricity generated in only the Northwest corner of the state, even though most of the state is not prime wind territory!

 

Speaking of Missouri, a 2010 study by Arizona State puts Missouri as 6th state for best cost-per watt for solar installation, and 4th best for optimal deployment of solar!  (more at the Huffington Post)  So no excuses there,  Missoura’.  You don’t need to be in New Mexico or Arizona to harness the sun!

 

Renewable Energy? Why Not! pt 4

4. Takes jobs away from coal/oil/gas etc.

Proponents of renewable energy like myself will often point out that the growing industry is adding thousands and thousands of new jobs.  But others are quick to counter that these jobs come at the cost of existing jobs in the fossil fuel industry.  This may be true, probably is, but there is some overlap.  When someone gets hired to engineer a new solar/wind project, it doesn’t mean that a coal miner or plant technician is fired.  Of course, the goal of many proponents is to eliminate fossil fuel usage, which would take the jobs with it.

But which would you prefer: working outside, in the fresh air on a wind turbine, or underground in dark coal mine, thousands of feet underground, breathing in coal dust?  I don’t want to offend anyone who has worked for a coal company, but some jobs are better than others. Remember the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in 2010? 38 dead.  Or the Sago Mine disaster in 2006 with 12 dead?  I certainly wouldn’t want to work in a coal mine.  They are dangerous and hazardous to your health, and negligent companies managing them aren’t making anything better.  So maybe we can replace them with better jobs.  Now, I don’t want to tell anyone that they have to retrain for a new job, but as the workforce ages and retires, maybe instead of hiring new people to replace them, we replace them with cleaner, healthier, safer jobs.  Just a thought.

Missourians: Help defeat HB 44!

My fellow Missourians:

In 2008, Missouri overwhelmingly passed a Renewable Energy Standard that set a goal of providing 15% of our state’s electricity from renewable resources by 2021.  This is a very achievable goal that would energize our state’s economy (pardon the pun) by adding a projected 22,000 jobs.

HB 44 is an attack aimed at weakening that standard.

HB 44 seeks to reclassify EXISTING hydroelectric plants in Missouri as renewable sources of electricity.  What’s the problem with that?  By reclassifying pre-existing hydro plants, it looks as if the state is closer to the 15% goal WITHOUT adding any renewable energy to our grid!  This bill adds NO new jobs, NO new infrastructure, does NOTHING to reduce pollution, and does NOTHING in general except make utilities seem like they are complying with the standard, when they are actually doing NOTHING!

The renewable energy standard set in 2008 is achievable, with benchmarks of 2% in 2011, 5% by 2014, 10% by 2018, and finally 15% by 2021.  This in not even an ambitious goal: Kansas has a RES goal of 20%, and Illinois is going for 25% by 2025.  Iowa already generates 25% of their electricity from renewable sources.

This bill is attempting to hamper progress in Missouri.  It has already passed the house.  Let’s stop it in the senate! How can you help?  Visit Renew Missouri, call your senator, and check in for updates on the bill.

A related question: IS hydroelectricity a form of renewable energy? erm… Sort of.  More on that from Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative blog.