Renewable Energy 101

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 11:00 am PT. This essential introduction to renewable energy covers the basics of how clean energy operates in the U.S. electricity grid. The hour-long webinar reviews renewable energy terms and definitions, types and technology, geographic distribution of resources like wind and solar, the basics of transmission and project financing, renewable energy certificates (RECs) and utility green power programs, and REC tracking systems. We will also cover the state of the renewable energy marketplace, including a brief overview of politics, players, and policies.

This webinar is perfect for people new to the industry, and those who want a broad, high-level overview of the clean energy landscape in the U.S.

Transcript

1. RENEWABLE ENERGY 101
   What it is, where it is, how it works, why it matters
   September 3, 2014
   Jeff Swenerton
   Communications Director
   

   View Slide

2. Outline
   1.  What is Renewable Energy?
   2.  Basics of the U.S. Electricity Grid
   3.  Renewable Energy Certificates
   4.  Renewable Energy Markets
   5.  Renewable Energy Project Financing
   (Plus: If Renewable Energy is So Great, Why Aren’t We Building It Faster?)
   6.  Homework
   

   View Slide

3. View Slide

4. View Slide

5. Renewable
   energy is
   natural,
   abundant,
   and clean.
   

   View Slide

6. Wind
   Solar
   Geothermal
   Biomass
   Low-Impact Hydro
   not nuclear
   not “clean” coal
   not natural gas
   

   View Slide

7. Wind
   Solar
   Geothermal
   Biomass
   Low-Impact Hydro
   not big hydro
   not nuclear
   not “clean” coal
   not natural gas
   

   View Slide

8. The Problem With Coal
   Americans use 18 pounds
   of coal every day
   Coal is responsible for 39%
   of global CO2
   emissions
   Coal provides 40%
   of the world’s electricity
   

   View Slide

9. Renewable
   energy is
   natural,
   abundant,
   and clean.
   

   View Slide

10. U.S. Mix
    Data: EIA Electricity Data Browser, September 2014
    

    View Slide

11. Data: EIA Electricity Data Browser, September 2014
    U.S. Renewable Energy Mix
    

    View Slide

12. A Megawatt Hour (MWh) is an
    amount of electricity, about what the
    average U.S. home uses in a month.
    A Megawatt Hour is 1,000
    Kilowatt Hours (KWh).
    What the Heck is a KWHMWHMW?
    

    View Slide

13. Wind
    

    View Slide

14. View Slide

15. Solar
    

    View Slide

16. View Slide

17. View Slide

18. Renewable Energy Snapshot: September 1, 2014
    

    View Slide

19. Hydropower
    

    View Slide

20. Geothermal
    

    View Slide

21. Biomass
    

    View Slide

22. grid basics
    

    View Slide

23. The Grid
    

    View Slide

24. The Grid: 345-499 kV
    

    View Slide

25. The Grid: 500-699 kV
    

    View Slide

26. The Grid: 700-799 kV
    

    View Slide

27. The Grid: 1,000 kV DC
    

    View Slide

28. Snapshot: October 9, 2013
    

    View Slide

29. Electricity consumption per capita
    13,246 kWh per capita in U.S.
    Data from World Bank, World Development Indicators Last updated: September 2, 2014
    

    View Slide

30. I want to buy
    renewable
    energy
    

    View Slide

31. The Electricity Grid
    

    View Slide

32. Two Ways to Buy Renewable
    Energy
    Sign up for a green pricing
    program.
    Buy renewable energy certificates
    (RECs).
    

    View Slide

33. The Renewable Energy Certificate
    

    View Slide

34. View Slide

35. Renewable
    Energy
    Markets
    

    View Slide

36. Renewable Portfolio Standards:
    29 States + D.C. have an RPS
    

    View Slide

37. nd for new renewable energy due to existing state RPS policies is expected to b
    140 million megawatt-hour (MWh) (Barbose 2013).
    ure 1. Comparison of compliance and voluntary markets for new renewable ener
    -
    10
    20
    30
    40
    50
    60
    70
    80
    90
    2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011a 2012
    Millions of MWh
    Voluntary
    Compliance (new
    renewables)
    a
    Voluntary vs. Compliance Markets
    

    View Slide

38. Voluntary Market Breakdown
    Figure 2. Estimated annual voluntary sales by market sector, 2006–2012
    a Voluntary sales for 2011 are estimated as the mid-point of 2010 and 2012 sales.
    0
    10
    20
    30
    40
    50
    60
    2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011a 2012
    Millions of MWh
    Unbundled Renewable Energy
    Cerficiate (REC) Markets
    Competitive Markets
    Utility Green Pricing
    a
    

    View Slide

39. View Slide

40. View Slide

41. Project Financing in Brief
    Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
    Renewable Energy Certificates
    Tax breaks, permitting
    Legislative Support (tax credits)
    Production Tax Credit (PTC)
    Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
    

    View Slide

42. If renewable
    energy is so
    great, why
    aren’t we
    building it
    faster?
    

    View Slide

43. Renewable Integration Issues
    Variability
    Transmission
    Siting
    High capital costs
    PTC Stress
    Fossil Fuel Availability
    

    View Slide

44. Historic Natural Gas Volatility
    Henry Hub Gulf Coast Natural Gas Price, in $ per Milllion BTUs. Source: U.S. EIA. Accessed October 9, 2013
    

    View Slide

45. Energy
    efficiency
    first
    

    View Slide

46. Renewable
    energy is the
    new new
    thing
    

    View Slide

47. Where Are the
    Renewable Energy Jobs?
    

    View Slide

48. Buy
    renewable
    energy
    

    View Slide

49. Tell a friend
    

    View Slide

50. ?
    

    View Slide

51. Jeff Swenerton
    Communications Director
    Center for Resource Solutions
    415-561-2100
    jeff@resource-solutions.org
    CONTACT
    

    View Slide