EIA predicts increased electricity production from renewables
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the March edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting total renewables used in the electric power sector will increase by 8.7 percent this year and 6.5 percent next year. For nonhydropower renewables, the EIA predicts an 11.5 percent growth in 2016 and 9.5 percent in 2017.
When compared to the February STEO, the EIA has dropped its 2015 and 2016 forecasts for wood biomass consumption by 0.2 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. The forecasts for wood biomass power generation capacity has been maintained at approximately 3,066 MW this year and 3,108 MW next year.
The EIA predicts wood biomass will be used to generate 113,000 MWh per day of electricity this year, increasing to 116,000 MWh per day next year. Waste biomass is expected to be used to generate 60,000 MWh per day, falling to 59,000 MWh per day next year.