United States – climate and energy statistics
Posted in National and regional statistics on 05/28/2009 05:29 pm by Stephen Tindale
Total national greenhouse gas emissions
About 18% of global total. This puts it joint top with China.
Historical contribution 1850-2000
30%
Per capita annual greenhouse gas emissions
23.5 tonnes
Energy used per unit of GDP
Two and a half times as much as China and about a third more than Germany and Japan. However, less than half as much as Russia.
Balance of energy sources – 2008
|
% |
|
| Oil |
37 |
| Coal |
24 |
| Gas |
24 |
| Nuclear |
9.5 |
| Hydro |
1 |
| Other renewables |
4.5 |
According to the US Energy Information Administration, renewables provided over 10% of both U.S. energy production and US electricity generation over the first nine months of 2009:
“Energy from biofuels, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar and wind sources contributed 10.5% of US energy generation – an increase on the 9.67% and 10.12% figures for 2007 and 2008 respectively. Renewables also contributed 10.21% of America’s electricity. US energy production from renewable sources grew by 4.10% during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the first nine months of 2009, with most of that growth coming from wind and hydropower. Wind energy production expanded by 28.46% and hydropower 4.73% during the first three-quarters of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.”
(See New Energy Focus: U.S. produces 10% of energy from renewable sources.)
Energy security
The USA is self sufficient in coal. About two-thirds of the oil used is imported. About 20% of the gas used is imported, mainly from Canada.
Electricity generated – 2008
| Coal | 49% |
| Gas | 21% |
| Nuclear | 19% |
| Hydro | 6.5% |
| Oil | 1.5% |
| Wind | 1.3% |
| Biomass | 1% |
| Waste | 0.5% |
| Geothermal | 0.4% |
| PV | 0.35% |
Installed wind capacity
In 2008 the US overtook Germany to become the world leader in wind, with 25 Gw of installed capacity (Germany had 24 Gw). But by the end of 2010 China had overtaken the US, with 41.8 Gw to the Americans’ 40.2 Gw.
2002 4.68 Gw
2003 6.37 Gw
2004 6.73 Gw
2005 9.14 Gw
2006 11.60 Gw
2007 16.82 Gw
2008 25.17 Gw
2009 35.16 Gw
2010 40.2 Gw
Electricity – supply and demand
In the 1950s, demand grew by 9% a year. In the 1990s, this was down to 2.5% and, in 2000-07, it was 1.1%.
Despite this slowing of the growth in demand, it is possible that some parts of the US will have times without electricity. This is because of low ‘capacity margins’ – that is, capacity of more than 100% of demand, to ensure that enough electricity if generated if some power stations stop working (for example, for repairs). The Eastern grid, which transmits 75% of total US electricity, has a capacity margin of 14%. The recommended level is 15%.
Fuels used for heat, 2008
| Gas | 66% |
| Coal | 18% |
| Oil | 8% |
| Biomass | 5.5% |
| Waste | 3% |