Decarbonization Channel

The power grid is a complex interconnected system that powers the entire economy by carrying electricity from the source of generation and delivering it to our homes, offices, and factories. Sometimes referred to as “the world’s largest machine”, the grid is an important engineering marvel for the modern economy.

The above infographic from the National Public Utilities Council explains how the power grid works and highlights the three key components that make up the grid.

#1: Electricity Generation

The grid begins with power plants that generate electricity, typically owned and operated by public, private, or investor-owned utilities.

More than 11,000 power plants comprise the U.S. grid, generating over 4 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. These are fueled by various energy sources:

Energy Source	2021 Electricity Generation (billion kWh)	% of Total
Natural Gas	1,575	38%
Coal	899	22%
Nuclear	778	19%
Renewables	826	20%
Other	38	0.9%
Total	4,116	100%

Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Natural gas and coal together accounted for 60% of annual electricity generation in 2021, followed by nuclear power. Wind was the largest renewable energy source, making up 10% of renewable electricity generation.

Each power generation technology has a different role to play in the larger power grid. For example, coal and nuclear power plants that cannot easily adjust their output are known as baseload power plants. Their output remains roughly the same throughout the day, and they are typically used to deliver the minimum amount of power needed to keep the grid running.

On the other hand, power generation from natural gas and intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar fluctuates throughout the day, typically peaking in the evenings when demand is at its highest. Natural gas plants are especially useful in meeting peaks in demand because their output can be adjusted relatively quickly.

#2: Transmission

After generation, electricity travels from power plants to centers of demand through a process known as transmission.

First, the electricity is sent from power plants to substations where step-up transformers convert it to extremely high voltages for transmission. High-voltage conversions help minimize how much electricity is lost as heat during transmission, which is roughly 5% in the United States. The higher the voltage, the less electricity is lost.

Transmission lines then carry this high-voltage electricity across long distances and are often interconnected across states. Line voltages can vary from 69,000 volts (69 kV) to 765kV, and transmission lines can be both overhead and underground.

Here’s a map of all high-voltage (345kV or greater) U.S. transmission lines:

Source: U.S. Energy Atlas

Upgrading and expanding transmission infrastructure is key to achieving a decarbonized power grid, especially as utilities build solar and wind capacity in the sunniest and windiest parts of the country.

#3: Distribution and Consumption

Distribution is the final stage of delivering electricity, making up the last major component of the grid.

Simply put, distribution begins when transmission ends. It is the process of transporting power from the transmission system to individual customers. First, step-down transformers convert the high-voltage power from transmission lines into lower voltages that are suitable for use.

These transformers are connected to distribution poles, which are typically made of wood and used to carry electricity within centers of demand. There are about 180 million distribution poles in the U.S., and it’s likely that you encounter one every day, especially if you live in a city.

Distribution lines and poles deliver electricity to end consumers including households, office buildings, factories, and electric vehicles. Here’s a look at U.S. electricity sales to each end-use sector in 2021:

Sector	2021 retail electricity sales (billion kWh)	% of Total
Residential 🏠	1,480	39%
Commercial 🏢	1,320	35%
Industrial 🏭	987	26%
Transportation 🚙	6	0.2%
Total	3,793	100%

Source: EIA

Heating and cooling are the largest residential electricity uses. In the commercial sector, refrigeration and computers and office equipment account for over a quarter of electricity use. The transportation sector is by far the smallest electricity consumer, but these figures may change as electric vehicle sales rise.

At all times, the amount of electricity sent through the grid must match demand from end-use sectors. This is because all grids operate at a particular frequency (60 hertz in the United States). Excess power supply or demand can destabilize this frequency, potentially damaging grid infrastructure and triggering blackouts.

Modernizing the Power Grid

Just like machines that get old and need greasing, the U.S. power grid is aging and it needs an upgrade, especially as the power sector works to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035.

The demand for electricity could accelerate in a scenario with high electrification, which involves switching from fossil fuel-powered technologies to electrical ones. For instance, one form of electrification is switching from gas-powered cars to electric cars.

To meet the growing demand for electricity, especially from clean energy sources, the U.S. will need to expand its transmission capacity and invest in modernizing the grid. In fact, reaching 100% clean electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from $330 billion to $740 billion in additional power system expenditures, according to a study by NREL.

Ultimately, upgrading and decarbonizing the grid are both pivotal to the U.S.’ climate goals, and this requires action from all stakeholders, from electric utilities to the government and end consumers.

The National Public Utilities Council is a collaborative body of industry experts coming together to solve decarbonization challenges in the power sector and the proud sponsor of the Decarbonization Channel.

Don't Miss

Ranked: Emissions per Capita of the Top 30 U.S. Investor-Owned Utilities

Click for Comments

Electrification

Road to Decarbonization: The United States Electricity Mix

Published

5 months ago

on

November 6, 2022

By

Omri Wallach

Road to Decarbonization: The United States Electricity Mix

This was originally posted on August 31, 2021, on Visual Capitalist.

The U.S. response to climate change and decarbonization is ramping up, and putting a focus on the country’s electricity mix.

As pressure has increased for near-term and immediate action after the UN’s latest IPCC report on climate change, major economies are starting to make bolder pledges. For the United States, that includes a carbon pollution-free utilities sector by 2035.

But with 50 states and even more territories—each with different energy sources readily available and utilized—some parts of the U.S. are a lot closer to carbon-free electricity than others.

How does each state’s electricity mix compare? This infographic from the National Public Utilities Council highlights the energy sources used for electricity in U.S. states during 2020, using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. Electricity Generation Mix By State

How does the United States generate electricity currently?

Over the course of 2020, the U.S. generated 4,009 TWh of electricity, with the majority coming from fossil fuels. Natural gas (40.3%) was the biggest source of electricity for the country, accounting for more than nuclear (19.7%) and coal (17.3%) combined.

Including nuclear energy, non-fossil fuels made up 41.9% of U.S. electricity generation in 2020. The biggest sources of renewable electricity in the U.S. were wind (8.4%) and hydro (7.3%).

But on a state-by-state breakdown, we can see just how different the electricity mix is across the country (rounded to the nearest percentage).

State (Electricity Source 2020)	Coal	Gas	Oil	Nuclear	Hydro	Geothermal	Solar	Wind	Biomass and Other
Alabama	16%	40%	0%	32%	9%	0%	0%	0%	3%
Alaska	13%	38%	16%	0%	31%	0%	0%	3%	1%
Arizona	13%	46%	0%	29%	6%	0%	6%	1%	0%
Arkansas	29%	32%	0%	29%	8%	0%	1%	0%	2%
California	0%	47%	0%	8%	11%	6%	16%	7%	4%
Colorado	36%	34%	0%	0%	4%	0%	3%	24%	0%
Connecticut	0%	57%	0%	38%	1%	0%	1%	0%	3%
D.C.	0%	65%	0%	0%	0%	0%	9%	0%	26%
Delaware	2%	92%	0%	0%	0%	0%	1%	0%	4%
Florida	7%	75%	1%	12%	0%	0%	3%	0%	3%
Georgia	12%	49%	0%	28%	4%	0%	3%	0%	5%
Hawaii	11%	0%	66%	0%	1%	2%	6%	6%	7%
Idaho	0%	21%	0%	0%	59%	1%	3%	14%	3%
Illinois	16%	14%	0%	58%	0%	0%	0%	10%	3%
Indiana	48%	36%	0%	0%	0%	0%	1%	7%	8%
Iowa	21%	12%	0%	5%	2%	0%	0%	58%	3%
Kansas	28%	6%	0%	20%	0%	0%	0%	43%	3%
Kentucky	62%	23%	0%	0%	7%	0%	0%	0%	8%
Louisiana	4%	70%	3%	17%	1%	0%	0%	0%	5%
Maine	1%	17%	0%	0%	34%	0%	0%	24%	23%
Maryland	8%	39%	0%	42%	5%	0%	2%	2%	3%
Massachusetts	0%	76%	0%	0%	5%	0%	9%	2%	8%
Michigan	24%	33%	1%	29%	2%	0%	0%	6%	5%
Minnesota	22%	20%	0%	26%	2%	0%	3%	22%	6%
Mississippi	6%	80%	0%	10%	0%	0%	1%	0%	3%
Missouri	63%	11%	0%	11%	3%	0%	0%	5%	8%
Montana	32%	2%	2%	0%	47%	0%	0%	13%	5%
Nebraska	47%	4%	0%	17%	4%	0%	0%	24%	5%
Nevada	5%	66%	0%	0%	5%	10%	13%	1%	0%
New Hampshire	0%	22%	0%	59%	9%	0%	0%	3%	7%
New Jersey	1%	50%	0%	44%	0%	0%	3%	0%	2%
New Mexico	34%	36%	1%	0%	1%	0%	5%	21%	3%
New York	0%	40%	0%	29%	24%	0%	1%	4%	2%
North Carolina	15%	34%	0%	34%	5%	0%	7%	0%	4%
North Dakota	52%	4%	0%	0%	8%	0%	0%	31%	5%
Ohio	33%	44%	1%	15%	0%	0%	0%	2%	5%
Oklahoma	6%	52%	0%	0%	5%	0%	0%	35%	1%
Oregon	3%	29%	0%	0%	52%	0%	2%	13%	2%
Pennsylvania	9%	52%	0%	33%	2%	0%	0%	2%	3%
Rhode Island	0%	92%	0%	0%	0%	0%	3%	3%	3%
South Carolina	11%	25%	0%	56%	3%	0%	2%	0%	3%
South Dakota	9%	7%	0%	0%	51%	0%	0%	33%	1%
Tennessee	17%	20%	0%	47%	13%	0%	0%	0%	2%
Texas	15%	52%	0%	9%	0%	0%	2%	20%	3%
Utah	55%	25%	0%	0%	3%	1%	7%	2%	7%
Vermont	0%	0%	0%	0%	58%	0%	8%	16%	18%
Virginia	3%	61%	0%	30%	2%	0%	1%	0%	4%
Washington	4%	12%	0%	8%	66%	0%	0%	7%	2%
West Virginia	80%	5%	0%	0%	3%	0%	0%	3%	9%
Wisconsin	36%	35%	0%	16%	5%	0%	0%	3%	6%
Wyoming	73%	3%	0%	0%	3%	0%	0%	12%	8%

At a glance, regional availability of a fuel source and historical use is clear.

For example, coal is the most-used electricity source in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Wyoming, historical coal rich regions and economies.

On the flip side, the Pacific Northwest and New England generated the most hydroelectricity, and the biggest producers of wind energy were all located in the Great Plains. Even the biggest percentage producers of solar and geothermal energy, California and Nevada, have plenty of access to sunlight and geothermal activity.

The Changing Electricity Landscape

But for the U.S. to reach its ambitious carbon-free goal by 2035, the biggest impact will need to come from the biggest electricity producers.

That title currently goes to Texas, which generated 12% of total U.S. electricity in 2020. Despite being the most populous state, California generated less than half Texas’ output, and less than both Florida and Pennsylvania.

State	Electricity Generated 2020 (TWh)
Texas	475.5
Florida	249.7
Pennsylvania	231.0
California	194.1
Illinois	173.6
Alabama	135.9
New York	132.0
North Carolina	124.0
Ohio	121.1
Georgia	119.3
Washington	114.2
Arizona	109.6
Michigan	104.9
Virginia	102.3
Louisiana	102.0
South Carolina	98.2
Indiana	89.9
Oklahoma	83.6
Tennessee	77.5
Missouri	73.4
Mississippi	65.8
Oregon	64.9
Kentucky	63.4
New Jersey	61.5
Wisconsin	61.0
Iowa	59.4
West Virginia	56.8
Minnesota	56.6
Kansas	54.3
Colorado	54.2
Arkansas	52.9
North Dakota	42.8
Wyoming	41.7
Connecticut	41.2
Nevada	40.5
Utah	37.1
Nebraska	36.9
Maryland	36.1
New Mexico	34.4
Montana	23.7
Idaho	19.3
Massachusetts	18.3
South Dakota	17.0
New Hampshire	16.7
Maine	10.4
Hawaii	9.3
Rhode Island	8.0
Alaska	5.9
Delaware	5.0
Vermont	2.4
D.C.	0.2

So although it’s positive that many states in the Pacific Northwest and New England have more plentiful non-fossil fuel electricity, their overall impact on the total U.S. picture is lessened.

Still, more and more states (and countries) are increasing their efforts and ambitions to decarbonize, and that progress makes it easier and more affordable over time. States that might struggle to attain carbon-free electricity, or where costs are too high, face less hurdles as technology improves and subsidies increase.

And with most major U.S. based utilities focusing on improving their ESG reporting and keeping up with decarbonization pledges of their own, the total electricity mix is expected to shift rapidly over the next decade.

National Public Utilities Council is the go-to resource for all things decarbonization in the utilities industry. Learn more.

Clean Energy

Mapped: U.S. Wind Electricity Generation by State

Published

5 months ago

on

November 6, 2022

By

Niccolo Conte

Mapping U.S. Wind Energy by State

This was originally published on April 25, 2022, on Elements.

Wind power is the most productive renewable energy source in the U.S., generating nearly half of America’s renewable energy.

But wind doesn’t blow fairly across the nation, so which states are contributing the most to U.S. wind energy generation?

This map uses data from the EIA to show how much wind electricity different U.S. states generate, and breaks down wind’s share of total electricity generation in top wind power producing states.

Wind Electricity Generation by State Compared

America’s wind energy generating states are all primarily located in the Central and Midwest regions of the nation, where wind speeds are highest and most consistent.

Texas is the runaway leader in wind, generating over 92 Terawatt-hours of electricity during a year, more than the next three top states (Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas) combined. While Texas is the top generator in terms of wind-powered electricity, wind only makes up 20% of the state’s total electricity generation.

State	Wind Electricity Generation (Terawatt hours)	Wind's Share of Net Electricity Generation
Texas	92.9 TWh	20%
Iowa	34.1 TWh	58%
Oklahoma	29.6 TWh	35%
Kansas	23.5 TWh	43%
Illinois	17.1 TWh	10%
California	13.6 TWh	7%
North Dakota	13.2 TWh	31%
Colorado	12.7 TWh	23%
Minnesota	12.2 TWh	22%
Nebraska	8.7 TWh	24%

Data from Feb 2020-Feb 2021
Source: EIA

Meanwhile, wind makes up a much larger share of net electricity generation in states like Iowa (58%), Oklahoma (35%), and Kansas (43%). For both Iowa and Kansas, wind is the primary energy source of in-state electricity generation after overtaking coal in 2019.

The U.S. also has 10 states with no wind power generating facilities, all primarily located in the Southeast region.

How Does Wind Energy Work?

Humans have been harnessing wind power for millennia, with windmills originally relying on wind to pump water or mill flour.

Today’s wind turbines work similarly, with their large blades generating electricity as wind causes them to rotate. As these blades are pushed by the wind, a connected internal shaft that is attached to an electric generator also turns and generates electricity.

Wind power is one of the safest sources of energy and relies on one key factor: wind speeds. When analyzing minimum wind speeds for economic viability in a given location, the following annual average wind speeds are needed:

Small wind turbines: Minimum of 4 meters per second (9 miles per hour)
Utility-scale wind turbines: Minimum of 5.8 meters per second (13 miles per hour)

Source: EIA

Unsurprisingly, the majority of America’s onshore wind turbine infrastructure is located in the middle of the nation, where wind speeds are highest.

Growing America’s Wind Turbine Capacity

While wind energy only made up 0.2% of U.S. electricity generating capacity in 1990, it is now essential for the clean energy transition. Today, wind power makes up more than 10% of U.S. electricity generating capacity, and this share is set to continue growing.

Record-breaking wind turbine installations in 2020 and 2021, primarily in the Central and Midwest regions, have increased U.S. wind energy generation by 30% to 135.1 GW.

In 2020, the U.S. increased wind turbine capacity by 14.2 gigawatts, followed by another 17.1 gigawatts in 2021. This year is set to see another 7.6 GW come online, with around half of 2022’s added capacity located in Texas.

After two years of record-breaking wind turbine installations, 2021’s expiration of the U.S. production tax credit is likely to dampen the rate of future installations.