NREL: Western States Could Get 35 Percent of Electricity from Wind and Solar by 2017

The western United States could get 35 percent of its electricity from wind and solar sources by 2017, without extensive additional transmission infrastructure, according to a report released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on May 20. The Western Wind and Solar Integration Study found that it is technically feasible for wind farms to generate 30 percent of the region’s electricity, and solar photovoltaic technologies and concentrating solar power sources to provide a combined 5 percent. The study examined a grid that powers the states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming – four of which have renewable portfolio standards requiring 15-30 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020-2025.

“If key changes can be made to standard operating procedures, our research shows that large amounts of wind and solar can be incorporated onto the grid without a lot of backup generation,” explained Dr. Debra Lew , NREL project manager for the study. Reducing the need for additional back-up generation, such as that provided by natural gas-burning power plants, can contribute to substantial savings. Operating costs could drop by $20 billion per year, saving 40 percent of costs while cutting the greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change by 25 to 45 percent.

The report follows a similar NREL study of wind energy potential east of the Rockies that was published in January 2010. It showed that the eastern United States could get 20 to 30 percent of its electricity from wind by 2024 through a variety of onshore and offshore development scenarios.