In the United States, the use of renewable energy has made great strides in 2011. This is what can be seen from the latest issue of the "Monthly Energy Review", an official magazine published by the EIA (US Energy Information Administration), an organization independent and impartial which deals with the dissemination of statistical data and information relating to the field of exploitation of energy sources in the USA.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
In United States the use of renewable energy has made giant steps in 2011, surpassing the national share of energy produced by nuclear power. This is what emerges from the last issue of the “Monthly Energy Review”, official magazine published by the EIA (US Energy Information Administration), an independent and impartial body that deals with the dissemination of statistical data and information relating to the exploitation of energy sources in the USA.
From the statistical analyzes published most recently by the EIA, it emerges that in the USA over the past year - the data collected stop in September 2011 - the11,95% of the energy produced in the United States originated from renewable sources, such as biomass, sun, wind, water, with the inclusion of geothermal energy. As for the nuclear sector, the percentage is around 10,62% in the first three quarters of 2011. Renewable energies therefore exceed nuclear power by more than one percentage point.
This is a first step towards the growth in the use of renewable energies foreseen for the next decades, which will probably take place at the expense of nuclear power, towards which a part of the US public opinion seems to be increasingly unfavorable, both for risks linked to possible radioactive emissions, both for the huge ones investments in terms of time and money that are necessary for the construction of new plants, as well as for their subsequent dismantling.
On the other hand, the US industry is considering new investments for the financing of mini-reactors, which could simplify, on a practical level, the use of the energy produced through them. However, there is no shortage of good news on the growth front within the renewables sector, given that there are more and more private investors interested in making their capital available for the construction of photovoltaic systems, considered a safe source of income, as well as energy considered "clean". The growth of the renewables sector will certainly not leave indifferent i politicians, on whose choices a large part of the American future in the energy field could depend.
And what about the future of Europe? To set a good example is the Germany, which in the course of the year just ended a real decline in the use of nuclear power, accompanied by an increase in the consumption of energy deriving from renewable sources. This is the first step taken in order to reach the final goal, the complete abandonment of the atom starting from 2022.
In Germany, the gap between nuclear and renewables exceeds 2%. As regards the latter, in fact, a figure of 19,90% on the total, against 17,70% reached by nuclear power, which in itself suffered a collapse of almost 5% compared to the previous year, following the closure of some reactors in March 2011. Germany also expects that in 2050 the80% of consumption of its territory derive from renewable sources. Certainly an ambitious plan, whose hopefully positive effects will hopefully inspire many.
Marta Albè
