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Wind Power Stats
According to the Department of Energy,
Renewable energy consumption declined more than 12 percent in 2001 to just 5.7 quadrillion Btu, its lowest level in over 12 years and renewable energy's share of U.S. energy consumption dropped to 6 percent. Consumption of all principal renewable energy resources decreased in 2001, except for wind.
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| 1997: U.S. wind-energy consumption in quadrillion Btu: |
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0.034
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| 1998: U.S. wind-energy consumption in quadrillion Btu. |
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0.031
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| 1999: U.S. wind-energy consumption in quadrillion Btu: |
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0.046
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| 2000: U.S. wind-energy consumption in quadrillion Btu: |
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0.057
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| 2001: U.S. wind-energy consumption in quadrillion Btu: |
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0.059
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| Top wind producers in the world: |
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Germany, United States, Spain, Denmark and India |
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| Net Geothermal, Solar, Wind, Wood and Waste Electric Power Consumption 2000 (Billion Kilowatthours): |
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United States: 84.1 |
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| Net Geothermal, Solar, Wind, Wood and Waste Electric Power Consumption 2000 (Billion Kilowatthours): |
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Germany: 17.6 |
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| Net Geothermal, Solar, Wind, Wood and Waste Electric Power Consumption 2000 (Billion Kilowatthours): |
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Canada: 9.2 |
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| Net Geothermal, Solar, Wind, Wood and Waste Electric Power Consumption 2000 (Billion Kilowatthours): |
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Spain: 6.1 |
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| Net Geothermal, Solar, Wind, Wood and Waste Electric Power Consumption 2000 (Billion Kilowatthours): |
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Japan: 18.5 |
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| Net Geothermal, Solar, Wind, Wood and Waste Electric Power Consumption 2000 (Billion Kilowatthours): |
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Brazil: 12.8 |
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| Sources: International Energy Agency: KEY WORLD ENERGY STATISTICS, 2001;
It should be noted that pricing of energy technologies varies greatly over time due to financial technological and environmental conditions. Wind speeds directly effect the price at which electricity can be produced — the same plant may produce electricity at rates between 4.8 cents in 16 mph winds and at 2.6 cents in 21 mph winds. Also, the size of the wind farm, inital captial costs, interest rates and special financing programs will affect overall costs.
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| Comparative Electricity Costs 1996 |
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| Coal: Levelized costs per kilowatt hour: |
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4.8-5.5 cents |
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| Gas: Levelized costs per kilowatt hour: |
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3.9-4.4 cents |
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| Hydro: Levelized costs per kilowatt hour: |
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5.1-11.3 cents |
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| Biomass: Levelized costs per kilowatt hour: |
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5.8-11.6 centrs |
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| Nuclear: Levelized costs per kilowatt hour:: |
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11.1-14.5 cents |
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| Wind: Levelized costs per kilowatt hour: |
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4.0-60 cents |
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