Will The U.S. Be Able to Reach Their New Decade Resolution?

According to a plan that was developed by Stanford Engineering professor Mark Jacobson and seven co-authors, to meet 100% renewable energy goal by 2050, the United States would need to add 1,500 GW of utility-scale solar panel installations and 500 GW of rooftop solar panel installations.

The plan also stated that they would also need to add a solar battery capacity of 3,300 GW that would balance solar energy and wind power, helped by 512 GW of the annual average flexible load.

To reach 80% of the plan by 2030, it would require a 36% compound annual growth rate in solar panel installations, based on a DC-AC ratio of 1.33. That 36% rate is notably more aggressive than the 18% annual growth targeted by the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Reaching 80% of Stanford plan’s ultimate 3,300 GW of solar battery capacity by 2030, starting from the current U.S. level of 1 GW, would require a compound annual growth rate of just over 100%.

Consumers would save around 64% of their annual costs in 2050 under the plan, due to low-cost solar panels and wind power, along with savings from energy-efficient heat pumps, electric cars, and fuel cell vehicles.

This goal doesn’t seem too far fetched according to the SEIA, which estimates that solar energy will lead to power generation this decade.

Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s president, and CEO stated; “Working in collaboration with other clean energy technologies, including storage, solar will lead a clean energy economic boom while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Late last year, the SEIA announced the goal for solar power to reach 20% of all U.S. electricity generation by 2030, naming the 2020s the Solar+Decade. By 2030, the solar panel installation industry expects to double the U.S. solar power workforce, add $345 billion in private investment and offset electricity sector emissions by 35%.  

Do You think the U.S. will reach its renewable energy goals? Comment below and let us know!