Energy in the United States
Content
Energy in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United States energy consumption by sector in 2007
The United States is the 2nd largest energy consumer in terms of total use in 2010.[1] The U.S. ranks seventh in
energy consumption per-capita after Canada and a number of small countries. [2][3] Not included is the significant
amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the U.S.
The majority of this energy is derived from fossil fuels: in 2010, EIA data showed 25% of the nation's energy
came from petroleum, 22% from coal, and 22% from natural gas. Nuclear power supplied 8.4% and renewable
energy supplied 8%,[4] which was mainly from hydroelectric dams although other renewables are included such
as wind power, geothermal and solar energy.[5] Energy consumption has increased at a faster rate than energy
production over the last fifty years in the U.S.(when they were roughly equal). This difference is now largely met
through imports.[6]
According to the Energy Information Administration's statistics, the per-capita energy consumption in the US
has been somewhat consistent from the 1970s to today. The average has been 335.9 million British thermal
units (BTUs) per person from 1980 to 2006. One explanation suggested for this is that the energy required to
produce the increase in US consumption of manufactured equipment, cars, and other goods has been shifted
to other countries producing and transporting those goods to the US with a corresponding shift of green house
gases and pollution. In comparison, the world average has increased from 63.7 in 1980 to 72.4 million BTU's
per person in 2006. On the other hand, US "off-shoring" of manufacturing is sometimes exaggerated: US
domestic manufacturing has grown by 50% since 1980.
The development of renewable energy and energy efficiency marks "a new era of energy exploration" in the
United States, according to PresidentBarack Obama.[7]
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Current consumption
o
2.1 Consumption by sector
o
2.2 Consumption by source
o
2.3 Regional variation
3 Oil consumption
4 Electrical Energy
o
4.1 Consumption
o
4.2 Generation
o
4.3 Trends
o
4.4 Plans
o
4.5 Energy consumption of computers in the USA
5 Fossil-fuel equivalency
6 International Cooperation
7 See also
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
[edit]History
US energy consumption, by source, 1775-2010. Vertical axis is in quadrillion BTU
From its founding until the late 18th century, the United States was a largely agrarian country with abundant
forests. During this period, energy consumption overwhelmingly focused on readily availablefirewood. Rapid
industrialization of the economy, urbanization, and the growth of railroads led to increased use of coal, and by
1885 it had eclipsed wood as the nation's primary energy source.
Coal remained dominant for the next 7 decades, but by 1950, it was surpassed in turn by both petroleum and
natural gas. As of 2011, coal consumption is the highest it has ever been, with coal mostly being used to
generate electricity. Natural gas, which is cleaner-burning and more easily transportable, has replaced coal as
the preferred source of heating in homes, businesses and industrial furnaces. Although total energy use
increased by approximately a factor of 50 between 1850and 2000, energy use per capita increased only by a
factor of four. As of 2009, United States per capita energy use had declined to 7075 more than 12% since
2000, and currently is at levels not seen since 1960s usage levels. [8] At the beginning of the 20th century,
petroleum was a minor resource used to manufacture lubricants and fuel for kerosene and oil lamps. One
hundred years later it had become the preeminent energy source for the U.S. and the rest of the world. This
rise closely paralleled the emergence of the automobile as a major force in American culture and the economy.
While petroleum is also used as a source for plastics and other chemicals, and powers various industrial
processes, today two-thirds of oil consumption in the U.S. is in the form of its derived transportation fuels.
[9]
Oil's unique qualities for transportation fuels in terms of energy content, cost of production, and speed of
refueling have made it difficult to supplant with technological alternatives developed so far.
In June 2010, the American Energy Innovation Council,[10] (which includes Bill Gates, Microsoft; Jeffrey R.
Immelt, chief executive of General Electric; and John Doerr) has urged the government to more than triple
spending on energy research and development, to $16 billion a year. Mr. Gates endorsed the administration’s
goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, but said that was not possible with today’s
technology or politicism. He said that the only way to find such disruptive new technology was to pour large
sums of money at the problem. The group notes that the federal government spends less than $5 billion a year
on energy research and development, not counting one-time stimulus projects. About $30 billion is spent
annually on health research and more than $80 billion on military R.& D. They advocate a jump in spending on
basic energy research.[11]
[edit]Current
consumption
Main article: Energy supply
Energy in the United States[12]
Population
Consumption
Production
Import
Electricity
CO2-emission
Million
TWh
TWh
TWh
TWh
Mt
2004
294.0
27,050
19,085
8,310
3,921
5,800
2007
302.1
27,214
19,366
8,303
4,113
5,769
2008
304.5
26,560
19,841
7,379
4,156
5,596
2009
307.5
25,155
19,613
6,501
3,962
5,195
2010 [13]
309.3
28,714
22,063
6,334
Change 2004-2009
4.6 %
-7.0 %
2.8 %
-21.8 %
1.0 %
-10.4 %
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh,[14] Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear power [15]
Primary energy use in the United States was 25,155 TWh and 82 TWh per million persons in 2009. Primary
energy use was 1,100 TWh less in the US than in China in 2009. Same year the share of energy import in the
US was 26 % of the primary energy use. The energy import declined ca 22 % and the annual CO2 emissions
ca 10 % in 2009 compared to 2004.[16]
U.S. Energy Flow - 2010. A quad is 1015 BTU, or 1.055 × 1018joules. Note that the breakdown of useful and waste
energy in each sector (yellow vs. grey) may be misleading because heat engines cannot convert 100% of thermal
energy into useful work and thus lose some heat into the environment.
U.S. Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector, 2009. From the U.S. Energy Information Administration
(Department of Energy).
[edit]Consumption
by sector
The U.S. Department of Energy tracks national energy consumption in four broad sectors: industrial,
transportation, residential, and commercial. The industrial sector has long been the country's largest energy
user, currently representing about 33% of the total. Next in importance is the transportation sector, followed by
the residential and commercial sectors.
Sector Summary
Sector Name
Industrial
Description
Facilities and equipment used for producing and processing
goods.
Transportation Vehicles which transport people/goods on ground, air or water.
Residential
Living quarters for private households.
Major uses[17][18][19]
22% chemical production
16% petroleum refining
14% metal smelting/refining
61% gasoline fuel
21% diesel fuel
12% aviation
32% space heating
13% water heating
12% lighting
11% air conditioning
8% refrigeration
5% electronics
5% wet-clean (mostly clothes
dryers)
Commercial
Service-providing facilities and equipment (businesses,
government, other institutions).
[edit]Consumption
25% lighting
13% heating
11% cooling
6% refrigeration
6% water heating
6% ventilation
6% electronics
by source
The breakdown of energy consumption by source is given here:
Fuel type
2006 US consumption inPWh[20]
2006 World consumption in PWh[21]
Oil
11.71
50.33
Gas
6.50
31.65
Coal
6.60
37.38
Hydroelectric
0.84
8.71
Nuclear
2.41
8.14
Geothermal, wind,
solar, wood, waste
0.95
1.38
Total
29.26
138.41
U.S, Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector in 2008 is tabled as following:
Consumption Summary'[22]
Supply Sources
Percent of Source
Demand Sectors
Percent of Sector
Petroleum
37.1%
71% Transportation
23% Industrial
5% Residential and
Commercial
1% Electric Power
Transportation
27.8%
95% Petroleum
2% Natural Gas
3% Renewable Energy
Natural Gas
23.8%
3% Transportation
34% Industrial
34% Residential and
Commercial
29% Electric Power
Industrial
20.6%
42% Petroleum
40% Natural Gas
9% Coal
10% Renewable Energy
Coal
22.5%
8% Industrial
<1% Residential and
Commercial
91% Electric Power
Residential and
Commercial
10.8%
16% Petroleum
76% Natural Gas
1% Coal
1% Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy
7.3%
11% Transportation
28% Industrial
10% Residential and
Commercial
51% Electric Power
Electric Power
40.1%
1% Petroleum
17% Natural Gas
51% Coal
9% Renewable Energy
21% Nuclear Electric
Power
Nuclear Electric
Power
8.5%
100% Electric Power
Note: Sum of components may not equal 100 percent due to independent rounding.
Total Primary Consumption Historical Evolution in U.S until 2009.
Total Consumption until 2009 in Mtoe [23]:
19 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 200 200 200 200 20 200 200 200 200 200 20 CA
90 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3 04 5
6
7
8
9 08 GR
- 200
20 0-
09
09
1,9 1,9 2,0 2,0 2,0 2,1 2,1 2,1 2,2 2,2 2,2 2,2 2,2
2,3 2,3 2,3 2,3 2,2 1,9
2,3
0.4
29. 67. 00. 41. 67. 18. 40. 67. 15. 79. 35. 70. 65.
24. 04. 40. 01. 01. 4.3
14
11
%
6
5
9
3
3
4
7
2
9
6
8
6
2
6
5
4
4
4
%
CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate Note: Total energy includes coal, gas, oil, electricity, heat and
biomass.
[edit]Regional
variation
Residential Energy Consumption per capita by State.[24]
Average annual residential electricity usage by city, 2000-2005. Measured in Kilowatt hours per customer.[25]
Household energy use varies significantly across the United States. An average home in the Pacific region
(consisting of California,Oregon, and Washington) consumes 35% less energy than a home in the South
Central region. Most of the regional differences can be explained by climate. The heavily populated coastal
areas of the Pacific states experience generally mild winters and summers, reducing the need for both home
heating and air conditioning. The warm, humid climates of the South Central and South Atlantic regions lead to
higher electricity usage, while the cold winters experienced in the Northeast and North Central regions result in
much higher consumption of natural gas and heating oil.
Another reason for regional differences is the variety of building codes and environmental regulations found at
the local and state level. California has some of the strictest environmental laws and building codes in the
country, which may contribute to the fact that its per-household energy consumption is lower than all other
states except Hawaii.
Major U.S. cities also show significant variation in per capita energy consumption. In addition to differences in
regional climates and variations in building code standards, factors affecting energy use in cities include
population density and building design. Townhouses are more energy efficient than single-family homes
because less heat, for example, is wasted per person.
[edit]Oil
consumption
Further information: Oil megaprojects (2011)
For most of the twentieth century and the early part of the twenty first century, the majority of energy consumed
has been from oil - fossil fuel provided 81% of the world's energy in 2009, with oil the largest contribution. [26] In
1956 a Shell engineer, M. K. Hubbert, recognized that at some point this would end, publishing the theory
of peak oil. In 2012 it is estimated that the world is at or past peak production of oil, and that out of the
estimated 2 trillion barrels available, about half has been consumed. During the first half of the 20th century, the
United States produced a majority of oil consumed domestically, but U.S. production peaked in the late 1970s,
and during the 1990s, the United States imported over 40% of its oil, peaking at over 60% in 2005. [27] Recently,
oil prices have risen, briefly, to as high as $145/barrel, [28] leading to a search for alternate sources, and by 2012,
less than half of US oil consumption was imported.[29] The dominant consumption of oil is due to its being cheap
and convenient. When both of these are removed, due to lack of supply and concern for global warming, oil
becomes unimportant. The time span to transition to renewable energy from oil could be from a decade to half
a century, but will certainly occur this century - at current rates of consumption there is approximately a 30 year
supply of oil left. If world consumption increases 2%/year, that drops to a 25 year supply. As supplies dwindle, it
is impossible to maintain production at the same level "until the well runs dry", and then abruptly stop. Hubbert
envisioned a bell shaped curve. As we are on the other side of the peak, we can anticipate production, and
therefore consumption to reduce each year,[30] and be replaced by renewable energy.[31] In opposition to this,
United States Department of Energy policy has been to continue to seek alternatives, regardless of the price worldwide it is estimated this will add $8 trillion to the cost of oil from 2010 to 2035. [32] As prices are set by
supply and demand, if we decrease the consumption of oil faster than production decreases, the price at the
pump will decrease. If we decrease consumption slower, the price will increase. U.S. gasoline prices jumped
from $1.37 to $2.37/gallon in 2005, most likely due to peak oil - the inability of production (supply) to meet
consumption (demand). Worldwide production peaked in 2005. [33]
In 2010 70.5% of petroleum consumption in the U.S. was for transportation. Approximately 2/3 of transportation
consumption wasgasoline.[34]
During the Carter administration, in response to an energy crisis and hostile Iranian and Soviet Union relations,
President Jimmy Carter announced the Carter Doctrine which declared that any interference with U. S.
interests in the Persian Gulf would be considered an attack on U.S. vital interests. [35] This doctrine was
expanded by Ronald Reagan.[36]
In the movie, Blood and Oil, Nation magazine correspondent Michael T. Klare says that the George W. Bush
Administration extended the Carter Doctrine even further to the reaches of Africa through the creation of
the United States African Command. He says this command is just there to protect African oil, and that there is
a race for scarce oil resources as China and Russia follow the path of the United States's policy in the past by
wanting oil for their developing economies.[37]
[edit]Electrical
Energy
The United States of America (USA) is the world's second largest producer and consumer of electricity. [38] It
consumes about 20%[39] of the world's supply of electricity. This section provides a summary of
the consumption and generation of the USA Electric industry. Based upon data mined from US DOE Energy
Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2010 files [40] Data was obtained from the most recent DOE
Energy Information Agency (EIA) files. Consumption is detailed from the residential, commercial, industrial, and
other user communities. Generation is detailed for the major fuel sources of coal, natural
gas, nuclear, petroleum, hydro and the other renewables of wind, wood, other biomass, geothermal and solar.
Changes to the electrical energy fuel mix and other trends and changes from 2007 and 2000 are identified.
Progress in wind and solar contributions to the energy mix are addressed. Expected changes in the generation
environment during the next 5 years are discussed.
[edit]Consumption
US Electric Energy Consumption by Consumer Communities
Total electrical energy consumption in 2010 was 4,151 Billion Kwhs (B Kwhs). 125.7 Million residential
customers used 1,446 B Kwhs- 34.8% of USA’s 2010 load. 17.7 Million commercial customers used 1,330 B
Kwhs- 32 %. 748K Industrial customers used 971 B Kwhs- 23.4%. 397 B Kwhs or 9.6% were losses from the
system (135 B Kwhs) and for unaccounted loads (262 B Kwhs). Average residential monthly usage was about
959 Kwhs and at a cost of $110.67/month.
Total Consumption in the peak year of 2007 was 4,184.5 B Kwh’s up from 3,836 in 2000. Percentages for each
consumer type is shown in the following graph.
[edit]Generation
Electricity production by source.
coal, oil, natural gas
hydroelectric
nuclear
Other renewables
Further information: Electricity sector of the United States
USA’s 1137.3 Gigawatt power infrastructure produced 4,125 Billion Kwhs (B Kwhs)in 2010. USA imports minus
exports was 26 B Kwhs or 0.6% of what was used. Electrical energy generated from Coal was 1,847 B Kwhs
(44.5%); Natural Gas, 999 B Kwhs (24.1%); Nuclear, 807 B Kwhs (19.4%); Hydro, 255 B Kwhs (6.1%);
Renewables, 167 B Kwhs (4%); Petroleum, 37 B Kwhs (0.9%); and Misc 13 B Kwhs (0.3%). USA’s renewable
fuels (Hydro reported separately) are Wind, 95 B Kwhs (2.3%); Wood, 37 B Kwh (0.9%); other Biomass, 19 B
Kwhs (0.45% ); Geothermal, 15 B Kwhs and Solar, 1 B Kwhs (0.02%). The following tables summarize the
electrical energy generated by fuel source for the USA. Data from Electric Power Annual 2010 state data
summary[41]]was also used. Changes in each fuels contribution from 2000 to 2010 are highlighted.
Electrical Production in the United States for 2010
Power
Source
Units in
Operation
Power
Capacity
(GW)
% of total
Capacity
Capacity
factor
Annual Energy
(billion kWh)
% of annual
production
Coal
1396
342.3
30
0.616
1,847
44.5
Nat Gas
5635
470.3
41.4
0.242
999
24.1
Nuclear
104
106.7
9.4
0.863
807
19.4
Hydro
4,171
98.7
8.7
0.295
255
6.1
Renewables
3,014
56.8
5
0.336
167
4
Petroleum
3,779
62.5
5.5
0.068
37
0.9
Misc
51
13
0.3
26
0.6
4,151
100
Import
Total
18,150
1137.3
100
0.42
Electrical Production by Renewables in 2010
Power
Source
Units in
Operation
Power
Capacity
(GW)
% of total
Capacity
Capacity
Factor
Annual Energy
(billion kWh)
% of annual
production
Hydro
4,171
98.7
8.7
0.295
255
6.1
Wind
689
40.2
3.5
0.29
95
2.3
Wood
346
7.9
0.7
0.53
37
0.9
Biomass
1,574
5
0.4
0.43
19
0.45
GeoThermal
225
3.5
0.3
0.49
15
0.36
Solar
180
2.7
0.21
0.13
1
0.02
Total
7,185
157.3
13.9
0.31
422
10.1
Electric Generation (%) by Fuel Type
US Electric Generation (%) by Renewable Source
Yearly Electric Energy (B KWh (or Twh) per year) by Fuel Source
Nuclea
r
Fossil Fuel
Mis
Total
c
Renewable
Year
Coal
Oil
Gas
sub
total
1,847
37
999
2,883
Proportio
0.9
44.5%
n
%
24.1
%
69.5
%
2010
807
Geo
Hydr
o
Therma
l
255
15
19.4% 6.1% 0.36%
Solar Wind
1
0.02
%
95
Woo
d
Bio
other*
sub
Total
37
19
422
39
0.45
%
10.1
%
0.9
100%
%
2.3% 0.9%
4,151
2009
1,756
39
931
2,726
799
269
15
1
74
36
18
413
46
3,984
2008
1,986
46
894
2,926
806
249
15
1
55
37.3
17.6
375
44.6
4,151.
6
2007
2,016.
65.7
5
910
2,990
806
241
15
0.6
34
39
16.5
346
39
4,187.
4
2000
1,966 111
615
2,692
754
270
14
0.5
5.6
37.6
23
Proportio
2.9
51.3%
n
%
16%
70.2
%
19.7%
7%
0.37%
0.01
%
0.14
%
1%
318.7 38.6 3,836
0.6% 9.1% 1% 100%
1999
1,881 118
570
2,569
728
313.4
14.8
0.5
4.5
37
22.6 392.8
33
3,723.
7
1. Solar includes Photovoltics and Thermal.
2. Misc includes Misc generation and Imports.
3. Bio Other includes Waste, Landfill Gas, and Other.
4. Hydro includes pumped storage.
[edit]Trends
In 2010 USA’s electrical energy usage was 8% more than in 2000. It was 1% less than the peak in 2007. For
the near future, coal, natural gas, and nuclear will remain the top three fuels for electric energy generation in
the USA with natural gas increasing its contribution. Hydro will hardly maintain. Petroleum will continue to
decrease in importance. Wind and solar will continue to grow in importance but their combined contribution to
U.S. energy output will be challenged to reach 4% by 2015 without a major policy change. Long term, wind,
water, and solar are projected to be predominant. Water will be used predominantly for energy storage. [42][43]
[edit]Plans
According to the 2012 Annual Energy Outlook, from 2010 to 2015 the United States summer peak electricity
generation capacity is expected to increase from 1006.6 Gigawatts to 1017.4 Gigawatts, a 1% increase. Coal
fueled capacity is expected to decrease by 19.4 Gigawatts; nuclear capacity is expected to increase by 2.4
Gigawatts; hydro by 0.38 Gigawatts, geothermal by 0.43 Gigawatts; wind by 12.54 Gigawatts; solar by 2.53
Gigawatts, and all together, a 16.22 Gigawatt increase in renewable generating capacity. Wind generating
capacity would increase by 36%; solar, 242%. Expected 2015 energy output from wind would be 3.6% of U.S.
electrical energy usage. Solar would be 0.5%. Based on the 21% growth of wind in 2011, and the 70% growth
in solar, these are likely to be low estimates. A 20% annual increase in wind power over five years would
increase capacity by 60 Gigawatts by 2015, and a 60% annual increase in solar power would increase solar
capacity by 25 Gigawatts by 2015, almost 5 and 10 times the AEO estimates, respectively. Generation capacity
(as opposed to generating capacity) is a function of thecapacity factor, which is about 30-35% for wind power
and about 15-20% for solar power. This means that for every 100 MW of wind power installed, on average it will
generate from about 30 to 35 MW, depending on the location. For every 100 MW of solar power installed, it will
generate an average of from about 15 to 20 MW, depending on the location, as well as other factors. For
example, a concentrating solar array (CSP) with thermal storage can have a capacity factor of over 75%, and
provide power 24 hours a day. The Bureau of Land Management has allocated over 97 million acres of land in
the southwest for solar projects - enough for 4 million MW of CSP solar power, with 24 hour storage - more
than enough to supply all of the energy used in the United States. [44][45]
[edit]Energy
consumption of computers in the USA
See also: Green computing
Visible or embedded (i. e. hidden) computers are found everywhere: in all sectors listed in the above chapter,
as well as in all subsectors listed in the column entitled Major uses in the above tables. In 1999, a study by
Mark. P. Mills[46] of the Green Earth Society reported that computers consumed 13% of the entire US supply.
Numerous researchers questioned Mills' methodology and it was later demonstrated that he was off by an
order of magnitude; for example, Lawrence Berkeley Labs concluded that the figure was nearer three percent
of US electricity use. Although the Mills study was inaccurate,[47][48][49] it helped drive the debate to the national
level, and in 2006 the US Senate started a study of the energy consumption of Server farms.
[edit]Fossil-fuel
equivalency
The total energy consumption reported above from the Annual Energy Review has been adjusted by a fossilfuel equivalency factor in order to estimate how much oil would be required to supply all of the energy used.
While there is 3,412 Btu per kWh, a factor of 10,460 Btu/kWh was used for nuclear and 9,760 Btu/kWh for
renewable energy, for 2010, to reflect how much oil would be required. This inflates the reported total energy
consumption, and roughly triples the apparent share from non-fossil fuel sources. As oil is less important, this
adjustment may be removed, as is largely the case in other countries. [50][51]
[edit]International
Cooperation
President Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao announced on 2009-11-17 a far-reaching package
of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy. The presidents
began by establishing a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center to facilitate joint research and development
of renewable energy technologies by scientists from both countries. The center will be supported by $150
million in public and private funds over the next five years, split evenly between the partners. Initial research
priorities will be building energy efficiency and electric vehicles.[citation needed]
The two countries will also leverage private sector resources to develop clean energy projects in China through
the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP). More than 22 companies are founding members of the
program. The ECP will include collaborative projects involving renewable energy, smart grids, electric
vehicles, green buildings, combined heat and power and energy efficiency.[52]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United States energy consumption by sector in 2007
The United States is the 2nd largest energy consumer in terms of total use in 2010.[1] The U.S. ranks seventh in
energy consumption per-capita after Canada and a number of small countries. [2][3] Not included is the significant
amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the U.S.
The majority of this energy is derived from fossil fuels: in 2010, EIA data showed 25% of the nation's energy
came from petroleum, 22% from coal, and 22% from natural gas. Nuclear power supplied 8.4% and renewable
energy supplied 8%,[4] which was mainly from hydroelectric dams although other renewables are included such
as wind power, geothermal and solar energy.[5] Energy consumption has increased at a faster rate than energy
production over the last fifty years in the U.S.(when they were roughly equal). This difference is now largely met
through imports.[6]
According to the Energy Information Administration's statistics, the per-capita energy consumption in the US
has been somewhat consistent from the 1970s to today. The average has been 335.9 million British thermal
units (BTUs) per person from 1980 to 2006. One explanation suggested for this is that the energy required to
produce the increase in US consumption of manufactured equipment, cars, and other goods has been shifted
to other countries producing and transporting those goods to the US with a corresponding shift of green house
gases and pollution. In comparison, the world average has increased from 63.7 in 1980 to 72.4 million BTU's
per person in 2006. On the other hand, US "off-shoring" of manufacturing is sometimes exaggerated: US
domestic manufacturing has grown by 50% since 1980.
The development of renewable energy and energy efficiency marks "a new era of energy exploration" in the
United States, according to PresidentBarack Obama.[7]
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Current consumption
o
2.1 Consumption by sector
o
2.2 Consumption by source
o
2.3 Regional variation
3 Oil consumption
4 Electrical Energy
o
4.1 Consumption
o
4.2 Generation
o
4.3 Trends
o
4.4 Plans
o
4.5 Energy consumption of computers in the USA
5 Fossil-fuel equivalency
6 International Cooperation
7 See also
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
[edit]History
US energy consumption, by source, 1775-2010. Vertical axis is in quadrillion BTU
From its founding until the late 18th century, the United States was a largely agrarian country with abundant
forests. During this period, energy consumption overwhelmingly focused on readily availablefirewood. Rapid
industrialization of the economy, urbanization, and the growth of railroads led to increased use of coal, and by
1885 it had eclipsed wood as the nation's primary energy source.
Coal remained dominant for the next 7 decades, but by 1950, it was surpassed in turn by both petroleum and
natural gas. As of 2011, coal consumption is the highest it has ever been, with coal mostly being used to
generate electricity. Natural gas, which is cleaner-burning and more easily transportable, has replaced coal as
the preferred source of heating in homes, businesses and industrial furnaces. Although total energy use
increased by approximately a factor of 50 between 1850and 2000, energy use per capita increased only by a
factor of four. As of 2009, United States per capita energy use had declined to 7075 more than 12% since
2000, and currently is at levels not seen since 1960s usage levels. [8] At the beginning of the 20th century,
petroleum was a minor resource used to manufacture lubricants and fuel for kerosene and oil lamps. One
hundred years later it had become the preeminent energy source for the U.S. and the rest of the world. This
rise closely paralleled the emergence of the automobile as a major force in American culture and the economy.
While petroleum is also used as a source for plastics and other chemicals, and powers various industrial
processes, today two-thirds of oil consumption in the U.S. is in the form of its derived transportation fuels.
[9]
Oil's unique qualities for transportation fuels in terms of energy content, cost of production, and speed of
refueling have made it difficult to supplant with technological alternatives developed so far.
In June 2010, the American Energy Innovation Council,[10] (which includes Bill Gates, Microsoft; Jeffrey R.
Immelt, chief executive of General Electric; and John Doerr) has urged the government to more than triple
spending on energy research and development, to $16 billion a year. Mr. Gates endorsed the administration’s
goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, but said that was not possible with today’s
technology or politicism. He said that the only way to find such disruptive new technology was to pour large
sums of money at the problem. The group notes that the federal government spends less than $5 billion a year
on energy research and development, not counting one-time stimulus projects. About $30 billion is spent
annually on health research and more than $80 billion on military R.& D. They advocate a jump in spending on
basic energy research.[11]
[edit]Current
consumption
Main article: Energy supply
Energy in the United States[12]
Population
Consumption
Production
Import
Electricity
CO2-emission
Million
TWh
TWh
TWh
TWh
Mt
2004
294.0
27,050
19,085
8,310
3,921
5,800
2007
302.1
27,214
19,366
8,303
4,113
5,769
2008
304.5
26,560
19,841
7,379
4,156
5,596
2009
307.5
25,155
19,613
6,501
3,962
5,195
2010 [13]
309.3
28,714
22,063
6,334
Change 2004-2009
4.6 %
-7.0 %
2.8 %
-21.8 %
1.0 %
-10.4 %
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh,[14] Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear power [15]
Primary energy use in the United States was 25,155 TWh and 82 TWh per million persons in 2009. Primary
energy use was 1,100 TWh less in the US than in China in 2009. Same year the share of energy import in the
US was 26 % of the primary energy use. The energy import declined ca 22 % and the annual CO2 emissions
ca 10 % in 2009 compared to 2004.[16]
U.S. Energy Flow - 2010. A quad is 1015 BTU, or 1.055 × 1018joules. Note that the breakdown of useful and waste
energy in each sector (yellow vs. grey) may be misleading because heat engines cannot convert 100% of thermal
energy into useful work and thus lose some heat into the environment.
U.S. Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector, 2009. From the U.S. Energy Information Administration
(Department of Energy).
[edit]Consumption
by sector
The U.S. Department of Energy tracks national energy consumption in four broad sectors: industrial,
transportation, residential, and commercial. The industrial sector has long been the country's largest energy
user, currently representing about 33% of the total. Next in importance is the transportation sector, followed by
the residential and commercial sectors.
Sector Summary
Sector Name
Industrial
Description
Facilities and equipment used for producing and processing
goods.
Transportation Vehicles which transport people/goods on ground, air or water.
Residential
Living quarters for private households.
Major uses[17][18][19]
22% chemical production
16% petroleum refining
14% metal smelting/refining
61% gasoline fuel
21% diesel fuel
12% aviation
32% space heating
13% water heating
12% lighting
11% air conditioning
8% refrigeration
5% electronics
5% wet-clean (mostly clothes
dryers)
Commercial
Service-providing facilities and equipment (businesses,
government, other institutions).
[edit]Consumption
25% lighting
13% heating
11% cooling
6% refrigeration
6% water heating
6% ventilation
6% electronics
by source
The breakdown of energy consumption by source is given here:
Fuel type
2006 US consumption inPWh[20]
2006 World consumption in PWh[21]
Oil
11.71
50.33
Gas
6.50
31.65
Coal
6.60
37.38
Hydroelectric
0.84
8.71
Nuclear
2.41
8.14
Geothermal, wind,
solar, wood, waste
0.95
1.38
Total
29.26
138.41
U.S, Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector in 2008 is tabled as following:
Consumption Summary'[22]
Supply Sources
Percent of Source
Demand Sectors
Percent of Sector
Petroleum
37.1%
71% Transportation
23% Industrial
5% Residential and
Commercial
1% Electric Power
Transportation
27.8%
95% Petroleum
2% Natural Gas
3% Renewable Energy
Natural Gas
23.8%
3% Transportation
34% Industrial
34% Residential and
Commercial
29% Electric Power
Industrial
20.6%
42% Petroleum
40% Natural Gas
9% Coal
10% Renewable Energy
Coal
22.5%
8% Industrial
<1% Residential and
Commercial
91% Electric Power
Residential and
Commercial
10.8%
16% Petroleum
76% Natural Gas
1% Coal
1% Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy
7.3%
11% Transportation
28% Industrial
10% Residential and
Commercial
51% Electric Power
Electric Power
40.1%
1% Petroleum
17% Natural Gas
51% Coal
9% Renewable Energy
21% Nuclear Electric
Power
Nuclear Electric
Power
8.5%
100% Electric Power
Note: Sum of components may not equal 100 percent due to independent rounding.
Total Primary Consumption Historical Evolution in U.S until 2009.
Total Consumption until 2009 in Mtoe [23]:
19 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 200 200 200 200 20 200 200 200 200 200 20 CA
90 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3 04 5
6
7
8
9 08 GR
- 200
20 0-
09
09
1,9 1,9 2,0 2,0 2,0 2,1 2,1 2,1 2,2 2,2 2,2 2,2 2,2
2,3 2,3 2,3 2,3 2,2 1,9
2,3
0.4
29. 67. 00. 41. 67. 18. 40. 67. 15. 79. 35. 70. 65.
24. 04. 40. 01. 01. 4.3
14
11
%
6
5
9
3
3
4
7
2
9
6
8
6
2
6
5
4
4
4
%
CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate Note: Total energy includes coal, gas, oil, electricity, heat and
biomass.
[edit]Regional
variation
Residential Energy Consumption per capita by State.[24]
Average annual residential electricity usage by city, 2000-2005. Measured in Kilowatt hours per customer.[25]
Household energy use varies significantly across the United States. An average home in the Pacific region
(consisting of California,Oregon, and Washington) consumes 35% less energy than a home in the South
Central region. Most of the regional differences can be explained by climate. The heavily populated coastal
areas of the Pacific states experience generally mild winters and summers, reducing the need for both home
heating and air conditioning. The warm, humid climates of the South Central and South Atlantic regions lead to
higher electricity usage, while the cold winters experienced in the Northeast and North Central regions result in
much higher consumption of natural gas and heating oil.
Another reason for regional differences is the variety of building codes and environmental regulations found at
the local and state level. California has some of the strictest environmental laws and building codes in the
country, which may contribute to the fact that its per-household energy consumption is lower than all other
states except Hawaii.
Major U.S. cities also show significant variation in per capita energy consumption. In addition to differences in
regional climates and variations in building code standards, factors affecting energy use in cities include
population density and building design. Townhouses are more energy efficient than single-family homes
because less heat, for example, is wasted per person.
[edit]Oil
consumption
Further information: Oil megaprojects (2011)
For most of the twentieth century and the early part of the twenty first century, the majority of energy consumed
has been from oil - fossil fuel provided 81% of the world's energy in 2009, with oil the largest contribution. [26] In
1956 a Shell engineer, M. K. Hubbert, recognized that at some point this would end, publishing the theory
of peak oil. In 2012 it is estimated that the world is at or past peak production of oil, and that out of the
estimated 2 trillion barrels available, about half has been consumed. During the first half of the 20th century, the
United States produced a majority of oil consumed domestically, but U.S. production peaked in the late 1970s,
and during the 1990s, the United States imported over 40% of its oil, peaking at over 60% in 2005. [27] Recently,
oil prices have risen, briefly, to as high as $145/barrel, [28] leading to a search for alternate sources, and by 2012,
less than half of US oil consumption was imported.[29] The dominant consumption of oil is due to its being cheap
and convenient. When both of these are removed, due to lack of supply and concern for global warming, oil
becomes unimportant. The time span to transition to renewable energy from oil could be from a decade to half
a century, but will certainly occur this century - at current rates of consumption there is approximately a 30 year
supply of oil left. If world consumption increases 2%/year, that drops to a 25 year supply. As supplies dwindle, it
is impossible to maintain production at the same level "until the well runs dry", and then abruptly stop. Hubbert
envisioned a bell shaped curve. As we are on the other side of the peak, we can anticipate production, and
therefore consumption to reduce each year,[30] and be replaced by renewable energy.[31] In opposition to this,
United States Department of Energy policy has been to continue to seek alternatives, regardless of the price worldwide it is estimated this will add $8 trillion to the cost of oil from 2010 to 2035. [32] As prices are set by
supply and demand, if we decrease the consumption of oil faster than production decreases, the price at the
pump will decrease. If we decrease consumption slower, the price will increase. U.S. gasoline prices jumped
from $1.37 to $2.37/gallon in 2005, most likely due to peak oil - the inability of production (supply) to meet
consumption (demand). Worldwide production peaked in 2005. [33]
In 2010 70.5% of petroleum consumption in the U.S. was for transportation. Approximately 2/3 of transportation
consumption wasgasoline.[34]
During the Carter administration, in response to an energy crisis and hostile Iranian and Soviet Union relations,
President Jimmy Carter announced the Carter Doctrine which declared that any interference with U. S.
interests in the Persian Gulf would be considered an attack on U.S. vital interests. [35] This doctrine was
expanded by Ronald Reagan.[36]
In the movie, Blood and Oil, Nation magazine correspondent Michael T. Klare says that the George W. Bush
Administration extended the Carter Doctrine even further to the reaches of Africa through the creation of
the United States African Command. He says this command is just there to protect African oil, and that there is
a race for scarce oil resources as China and Russia follow the path of the United States's policy in the past by
wanting oil for their developing economies.[37]
[edit]Electrical
Energy
The United States of America (USA) is the world's second largest producer and consumer of electricity. [38] It
consumes about 20%[39] of the world's supply of electricity. This section provides a summary of
the consumption and generation of the USA Electric industry. Based upon data mined from US DOE Energy
Information Administration/Electric Power Annual 2010 files [40] Data was obtained from the most recent DOE
Energy Information Agency (EIA) files. Consumption is detailed from the residential, commercial, industrial, and
other user communities. Generation is detailed for the major fuel sources of coal, natural
gas, nuclear, petroleum, hydro and the other renewables of wind, wood, other biomass, geothermal and solar.
Changes to the electrical energy fuel mix and other trends and changes from 2007 and 2000 are identified.
Progress in wind and solar contributions to the energy mix are addressed. Expected changes in the generation
environment during the next 5 years are discussed.
[edit]Consumption
US Electric Energy Consumption by Consumer Communities
Total electrical energy consumption in 2010 was 4,151 Billion Kwhs (B Kwhs). 125.7 Million residential
customers used 1,446 B Kwhs- 34.8% of USA’s 2010 load. 17.7 Million commercial customers used 1,330 B
Kwhs- 32 %. 748K Industrial customers used 971 B Kwhs- 23.4%. 397 B Kwhs or 9.6% were losses from the
system (135 B Kwhs) and for unaccounted loads (262 B Kwhs). Average residential monthly usage was about
959 Kwhs and at a cost of $110.67/month.
Total Consumption in the peak year of 2007 was 4,184.5 B Kwh’s up from 3,836 in 2000. Percentages for each
consumer type is shown in the following graph.
[edit]Generation
Electricity production by source.
coal, oil, natural gas
hydroelectric
nuclear
Other renewables
Further information: Electricity sector of the United States
USA’s 1137.3 Gigawatt power infrastructure produced 4,125 Billion Kwhs (B Kwhs)in 2010. USA imports minus
exports was 26 B Kwhs or 0.6% of what was used. Electrical energy generated from Coal was 1,847 B Kwhs
(44.5%); Natural Gas, 999 B Kwhs (24.1%); Nuclear, 807 B Kwhs (19.4%); Hydro, 255 B Kwhs (6.1%);
Renewables, 167 B Kwhs (4%); Petroleum, 37 B Kwhs (0.9%); and Misc 13 B Kwhs (0.3%). USA’s renewable
fuels (Hydro reported separately) are Wind, 95 B Kwhs (2.3%); Wood, 37 B Kwh (0.9%); other Biomass, 19 B
Kwhs (0.45% ); Geothermal, 15 B Kwhs and Solar, 1 B Kwhs (0.02%). The following tables summarize the
electrical energy generated by fuel source for the USA. Data from Electric Power Annual 2010 state data
summary[41]]was also used. Changes in each fuels contribution from 2000 to 2010 are highlighted.
Electrical Production in the United States for 2010
Power
Source
Units in
Operation
Power
Capacity
(GW)
% of total
Capacity
Capacity
factor
Annual Energy
(billion kWh)
% of annual
production
Coal
1396
342.3
30
0.616
1,847
44.5
Nat Gas
5635
470.3
41.4
0.242
999
24.1
Nuclear
104
106.7
9.4
0.863
807
19.4
Hydro
4,171
98.7
8.7
0.295
255
6.1
Renewables
3,014
56.8
5
0.336
167
4
Petroleum
3,779
62.5
5.5
0.068
37
0.9
Misc
51
13
0.3
26
0.6
4,151
100
Import
Total
18,150
1137.3
100
0.42
Electrical Production by Renewables in 2010
Power
Source
Units in
Operation
Power
Capacity
(GW)
% of total
Capacity
Capacity
Factor
Annual Energy
(billion kWh)
% of annual
production
Hydro
4,171
98.7
8.7
0.295
255
6.1
Wind
689
40.2
3.5
0.29
95
2.3
Wood
346
7.9
0.7
0.53
37
0.9
Biomass
1,574
5
0.4
0.43
19
0.45
GeoThermal
225
3.5
0.3
0.49
15
0.36
Solar
180
2.7
0.21
0.13
1
0.02
Total
7,185
157.3
13.9
0.31
422
10.1
Electric Generation (%) by Fuel Type
US Electric Generation (%) by Renewable Source
Yearly Electric Energy (B KWh (or Twh) per year) by Fuel Source
Nuclea
r
Fossil Fuel
Mis
Total
c
Renewable
Year
Coal
Oil
Gas
sub
total
1,847
37
999
2,883
Proportio
0.9
44.5%
n
%
24.1
%
69.5
%
2010
807
Geo
Hydr
o
Therma
l
255
15
19.4% 6.1% 0.36%
Solar Wind
1
0.02
%
95
Woo
d
Bio
other*
sub
Total
37
19
422
39
0.45
%
10.1
%
0.9
100%
%
2.3% 0.9%
4,151
2009
1,756
39
931
2,726
799
269
15
1
74
36
18
413
46
3,984
2008
1,986
46
894
2,926
806
249
15
1
55
37.3
17.6
375
44.6
4,151.
6
2007
2,016.
65.7
5
910
2,990
806
241
15
0.6
34
39
16.5
346
39
4,187.
4
2000
1,966 111
615
2,692
754
270
14
0.5
5.6
37.6
23
Proportio
2.9
51.3%
n
%
16%
70.2
%
19.7%
7%
0.37%
0.01
%
0.14
%
1%
318.7 38.6 3,836
0.6% 9.1% 1% 100%
1999
1,881 118
570
2,569
728
313.4
14.8
0.5
4.5
37
22.6 392.8
33
3,723.
7
1. Solar includes Photovoltics and Thermal.
2. Misc includes Misc generation and Imports.
3. Bio Other includes Waste, Landfill Gas, and Other.
4. Hydro includes pumped storage.
[edit]Trends
In 2010 USA’s electrical energy usage was 8% more than in 2000. It was 1% less than the peak in 2007. For
the near future, coal, natural gas, and nuclear will remain the top three fuels for electric energy generation in
the USA with natural gas increasing its contribution. Hydro will hardly maintain. Petroleum will continue to
decrease in importance. Wind and solar will continue to grow in importance but their combined contribution to
U.S. energy output will be challenged to reach 4% by 2015 without a major policy change. Long term, wind,
water, and solar are projected to be predominant. Water will be used predominantly for energy storage. [42][43]
[edit]Plans
According to the 2012 Annual Energy Outlook, from 2010 to 2015 the United States summer peak electricity
generation capacity is expected to increase from 1006.6 Gigawatts to 1017.4 Gigawatts, a 1% increase. Coal
fueled capacity is expected to decrease by 19.4 Gigawatts; nuclear capacity is expected to increase by 2.4
Gigawatts; hydro by 0.38 Gigawatts, geothermal by 0.43 Gigawatts; wind by 12.54 Gigawatts; solar by 2.53
Gigawatts, and all together, a 16.22 Gigawatt increase in renewable generating capacity. Wind generating
capacity would increase by 36%; solar, 242%. Expected 2015 energy output from wind would be 3.6% of U.S.
electrical energy usage. Solar would be 0.5%. Based on the 21% growth of wind in 2011, and the 70% growth
in solar, these are likely to be low estimates. A 20% annual increase in wind power over five years would
increase capacity by 60 Gigawatts by 2015, and a 60% annual increase in solar power would increase solar
capacity by 25 Gigawatts by 2015, almost 5 and 10 times the AEO estimates, respectively. Generation capacity
(as opposed to generating capacity) is a function of thecapacity factor, which is about 30-35% for wind power
and about 15-20% for solar power. This means that for every 100 MW of wind power installed, on average it will
generate from about 30 to 35 MW, depending on the location. For every 100 MW of solar power installed, it will
generate an average of from about 15 to 20 MW, depending on the location, as well as other factors. For
example, a concentrating solar array (CSP) with thermal storage can have a capacity factor of over 75%, and
provide power 24 hours a day. The Bureau of Land Management has allocated over 97 million acres of land in
the southwest for solar projects - enough for 4 million MW of CSP solar power, with 24 hour storage - more
than enough to supply all of the energy used in the United States. [44][45]
[edit]Energy
consumption of computers in the USA
See also: Green computing
Visible or embedded (i. e. hidden) computers are found everywhere: in all sectors listed in the above chapter,
as well as in all subsectors listed in the column entitled Major uses in the above tables. In 1999, a study by
Mark. P. Mills[46] of the Green Earth Society reported that computers consumed 13% of the entire US supply.
Numerous researchers questioned Mills' methodology and it was later demonstrated that he was off by an
order of magnitude; for example, Lawrence Berkeley Labs concluded that the figure was nearer three percent
of US electricity use. Although the Mills study was inaccurate,[47][48][49] it helped drive the debate to the national
level, and in 2006 the US Senate started a study of the energy consumption of Server farms.
[edit]Fossil-fuel
equivalency
The total energy consumption reported above from the Annual Energy Review has been adjusted by a fossilfuel equivalency factor in order to estimate how much oil would be required to supply all of the energy used.
While there is 3,412 Btu per kWh, a factor of 10,460 Btu/kWh was used for nuclear and 9,760 Btu/kWh for
renewable energy, for 2010, to reflect how much oil would be required. This inflates the reported total energy
consumption, and roughly triples the apparent share from non-fossil fuel sources. As oil is less important, this
adjustment may be removed, as is largely the case in other countries. [50][51]
[edit]International
Cooperation
President Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao announced on 2009-11-17 a far-reaching package
of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy. The presidents
began by establishing a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center to facilitate joint research and development
of renewable energy technologies by scientists from both countries. The center will be supported by $150
million in public and private funds over the next five years, split evenly between the partners. Initial research
priorities will be building energy efficiency and electric vehicles.[citation needed]
The two countries will also leverage private sector resources to develop clean energy projects in China through
the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP). More than 22 companies are founding members of the
program. The ECP will include collaborative projects involving renewable energy, smart grids, electric
vehicles, green buildings, combined heat and power and energy efficiency.[52]
