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U.S. Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Declined 7% in 2009
A new analysis from DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) demonstrates that an economic downturn is good for one thing, at least: reducing GHG emissions.
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the US declined by a record 7% in 2009, partly due to a 2.4% decline in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).
The record drop in emissions, totaling 405 million metric tons, was also caused by the ongoing trend toward a less energy-intensive economy and a decrease in the carbon-intensity of the energy supply.
The carbon intensity of the U.S. energy supply, that is, the amount of carbon dioxide generated per unit of energy consumed, declined 2.3%, thanks in part to the greater use of renewable energy, but also because of fuel switching from coal to natural gas.
And despite the drop in GDP, the energy intensity of the economy, expressed as the energy consumed per dollar of GDP, declined by 2.4%. A key factor in that drop was the output from energy-intensive industries, such as primary metals and non-metallic minerals, fell much faster than the total U.S. industrial production. U.S. GHG emissions are dominated by energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, so they generally follow the same trends. See the EIA press release and analysis.
U.S. Solar Industry Reports Strong Growth in 2009
The U.S. solar industry reported strong growth in 2009, overcoming harsh economic conditions to post a 36% increase in revenues, which totaled $4 billion.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released its 2009 annual report on April 15, showing that overall U.S. solar capacity grew by 37%, doubling the size of the residential PV market and adding three new concentrating solar power (CSP) plants.
Residential grid-tied PV installations showed the strongest growth, jumping from 78 MW to 156 MW. State and federal policy support, along with reductions in technology costs, helped boost the industry, while creating 17,000 new solar jobs nationwide. SEIA said signs are pointing to a continued strong showing in 2010.
California's 220 MW of new solar capacity led the US in 2009, trailed by New Jersey at a distant second with 57 MW. Following New Jersery are Florida, Arizona , Colorado, Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
In terms of new solar capacity per capita in 2009, Hawaii was the leader with 10.4 watts, while Nevada has the most cumulative solar capacity per capita, at 38 watts. Internationally, the US ranked fourth in new solar capacity with 481 MW, behind Germany's 3,000 MW, Italy's 700 MW, and Japan's 484 MW. See the SEIA press release and report (PDF 1.0 MB).
The industry results were reflected in the results of U.S. thin-film solar module manufacturer First Solar, Inc., which topped the rankings for PV module suppliers in 2009, shipping more than 1 GW of modules. According to IMS Research, First Solar moved from second to first place, overtaking Suntech Power Holdings Company.
Overall, the top 10 firms increased module shipments 75% in 2009. Globally, PV installations reached a record high of 6.43 GW, a 6% increase over the previous year, according to the annual PV market report issued by Solarbuzz. See the press releases from IMS and Solarbuzz.
