Lifestyle

CLEAN EDGE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS RISING RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMITMENTS

AMONG GOVERNEMENTS AND CORPORATIONS


(Source: Clean Edge, Inc.)
(Source: Clean Edge, Inc.)
USPA NEWS - The goal of powering a company, city, state, or nation with 50%, 75%, or even 100% renewable electricity would have seemed preposterous not long ago. But increasingly, a growing number of companies and governments are aim­ing to achieve such targets,...
The goal of powering a company, city, state, or nation with 50%, 75%, or even 100% renewable electricity would have seemed preposterous not long ago. But increasingly, a growing number of companies and governments are aim­ing to achieve such targets or have already reached such goals, according to the latest report from clean-energy research firm Clean Edge, commissioned by solar power provider SolarCity. Released on November 10, Getting to 100 is available for download at www.cleanedge.com/reports.
In recent years, a growing number of governments and corporations have increased their renewable energy targets. In 2015 alone, California established a 50% by 2030 renewable portfolio standard (RPS); Vermont a 75% RPS by 2032; and Hawaii a 100% RPS by 2045. International jurisdictions that are already 100% powered by renewable electricity include the nation of Iceland, several small islands, and the states of Carinthia in Austria and Schleswig-Holstein (population 2.8 million) in Germany.
Dozens of corporations are also already procuring 100% of their electrons from renewables for their U.S. operations, including Apple, Intel, Kohl's and Voya Financial, and many more are aiming to get there in the next decade or two.

What's driving this trend ? The report highlights five major developments enabling the shift to 100% renewables. These include :

- An Emboldened, Resilient Grid Takes Shape
- Net Zero Buildings And Smart Connected Devices Drive Efficiency Renaissance
- Energy Storage Completes The Puzzle
- Utility-Scale Renewables Grow Up
- Distributed Solar Becomes Cost-Effective Across Geographies
The trend toward 100% renewables is occurring within a larger global picture of renewable energy going from fledgling to mainstream. Global solar and wind industries, for example, have expanded from a combined $6.3 billion market in 2000 to nearly $200 billion last year according to Clean Edge, representing a 14-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28%.

In 2014, solar and wind power represented more than half of all new electricity capacity additions in the U.S., while globally renewables (mainly solar, wind, and hydropower) represented approximately 60% of net additions to global power capacity.
The report walks through the main decision-making processes that companies and governments need to consider at they pursue their renewable energy goals. These include the following steps: 1) assess baseline electricity usage, 2) pursue energy efficiency measures, 3) deploy clean energy, and 4) balance, where needed, with energy storage.

Source : Clean Edge, Inc.

Ruby BIRD
http://www.portfolio.uspa24.com/
Yasmina BEDDOU
http://www.yasmina-beddou.uspa24.com/
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