The U.S. government aims to double wind power generation by 2020 and have it account for 10 % of total electricity production, according to a report released today by the Department of Energy.
The U.S. government aims to increase the share of its electricity generated from wind power from the current 4.5 % to 10 % over the next five years, reaching 20 % by 2030 and 35 % by 2050.
The Wind Vision report predicts that the targets will be met through «continued investment in technology and innovation, along with transmission systems that provide access to high-potential areas and integration with the power grid.».
Average U.S. investment in wind farms between 2008 and 2013 was $13 billion, a figure that could rise to $70 billion annually by 2050.
The goal is to add between 8 and 11 gigawatts of wind power generation each year through 2050, while reducing the unit cost of this clean source of electricity.
The scenarios developed by the Department of Energy project an increase from the current 61 gigawatts to 113 gigawatts in 2020, 224 gigawatts in 2030, and 404 gigawatts in 2050.
According to the report, these analyses «demonstrate the economic value of wind energy, a value that exceeds the cost of deployment.».
The White House stated today that the ambitious goals set by the U.S. Department of Energy are «a viable scenario» that will make it possible to provide energy to 100 million households across the country by 2050.
The White House also hopes that this commitment to wind energy will help develop the industry’s supply chain within the United States, fostering growth in a sector that currently comprises some 500 companies.
The U.S. government also expects that wind energy will save consumers $280 billion in the long term and reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to those of 20 million vehicles.
Currently, the United States imports about 30 % of the materials needed for wind farms.
Spanish companies such as Acciona, Iberdrola, and Gamesa operate wind farms and assembly centers in the United States, a market where European companies in the sector have stepped up their competition.
