article thumbnail

Good News—and Bad—about Fossil Fuel Power Plants in 2023 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Solar power is expected to make up about half of all additions of US electric generating capacity in 2023, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). GW record from 2021. And fossil fuel power plants may not stick to their retirement schedules for a variety of reasons.

article thumbnail

COP27 hosts Egypt to build major wind power project

A Greener Life

The country recently announced that its Egyptian New and Renewable Energy Authority and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company have approved a major wind power project, developed by a company based in a country hostile to phasing out fossil fuels; Saudi Arabia. As of 2021 the country had 1.6

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

5 Powerful Facts for Global Wind Day

Union of Concerned Scientists

We at the Union of Concerned Scientists think a lot about wind power. In honor of Global Wind Day , here’s a roundup of what we’re seeing and what we’ve been thinking—five facts about wind energy to keep in mind as you celebrate, or at least make note, on June 15. Wind power is big, and getting bigger.

article thumbnail

How Are Lithium-ion Batteries that Store Solar and Wind Power Made?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Batteries can also be used to assist with peak electricity demand; currently instead of batteries, fossil fuel-powered “peaker plants” are often used to supply energy during high-demand periods. From 2020 to 2021, large-scale US battery storage system installations tripled from 1.4 Source: Liu et al.

article thumbnail

Ask a Scientist: The US Has to Do More to Meet Its Carbon Emissions Reduction Goals

Union of Concerned Scientists

It also will save US consumers money because they will spend less on fossil fuels. First, decarbonizing the electricity sector mainly with wind and solar to replace coal and fossil gas. Second, replacing fossil fuels with clean electricity in the transportation, building, and industrial sectors.

article thumbnail

Building a Better Power Grid for Minnesota

Union of Concerned Scientists

Minnesotans are facing concurrent crises of climate change, high energy prices and inflation, and the inequitable public health impacts of fossil fuel air pollution. Renewable energy will help with all of that—but we need a grid that is designed for wind and solar instead of having to rely on expensive coal and gas plants.

article thumbnail

Illinois Has No Time to Waste in Building Its Carbon-Free Electricity Future

Union of Concerned Scientists

By combining these supportive policies with studies of where they can be most effective in supporting the power grid, Illinois can see where to best focus its clean energy development efforts. This “heat map” displays the results of power flow modeling with Illinois PJM-connected coal and gas plants removed from the system.