Energy Sources

About three-fourths of our current energy consumption is from fossil fuels.  The figure shows actual and projected energy consumption if we continue on our current path.  

We are currently consuming over 550 quadrillion BTUs of energy annually, and are on the way to over 700 quadrillion BTUs.  Clearly we cannot continue on this path.  To get a feel for the magnitude of this energy need, in order to replace all the fossil fuel energy supply we would need about 250,000 840 MW power plants (about the size of Three Mile Island).

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Solar is Growing

Solar is growing in the U.S. and globally. Installed capacity in the U.S. is growing by more than 30% per year, approaching 8,000 MW installed capacity.  This compares with global photovoltaic installed capacity of 38,000 MW, with cumulative installed capacity of 139,000 MW, or 139 GW.

Also, according to a 2014 report by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, the price of solar is decreasing, dropping from about $12 in 1998 to $7 in 2012 (2012US$/W(DC)).

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Wind is Growing

Wind is growing dramatically too.  In 2012 global cumulative capacity was 281 GW.  Figure from GWEC.

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