Renewable Energy Supplies 23% Global Electricity Generation

In 2012, Germany led the world in cumulative solar photovoltaic installed capacity, reports the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). The United States leads the world in geothermal and biomass installed capacity. China leads in wind, and Spain leads in solar thermal electric generation (STEG).

Sustainable Energy Accounts For 23% of All Electricity Generation Worldwide (4,892 Twh)

This is more information from the NREL report: 2012 Renewable Energy Data Book. Here we see which countries have the most sustainable energy sources and what the clean energy sources are for each of these nations. If you want more information click HERE to see the report and go to pages 40 – 50. By Amber Archangel.  The following is from the NREL 2012 Renewable Energy Data Book:

Does One Country Lead The World With Renewable Energy?

• Cumulative global renewable electricity installed capacity has grown by 97% from 2000 to 2012 (from 748 GW to 1,470 GW).
• Countries with extensive solar policies—such as Germany, Spain, and Italy— lead the world in solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment.

Renewable Electricity by Technology for the World’s Top Countries

• Wind and solar energy are the fastest growing renewable electricity technologies worldwide. Wind generation grew by a factor of nearly 16 and solar generation grew by a factor of 49 between 2000 and 2012.
• Although global cumulative installed offshore wind capacity surpassed 5 GW in 2012, no commercial offshore wind turbines have been commissioned in the United States thus far.

Total Global Renewable Electricity Capacity

• The installed global renewable electricity* capacity doubled between 2000 and 2012, and represents a significant and growing portion of the total energy supply both globally and in the United States.

The World’s Sustainable Energy Resources

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Pumpkin Power: Pumpkins Can Make Renewable Electricity

According to the Department of Energy: It might not be long until the 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins we produce annually are nearly as important to our energy security as they are to Halloween!  Thanks to the pioneering work of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), discarded pumpkins and other food waste are used as a source of renewable electricity. I was searching through the archives at Energy.Gov and found the following totally cool story. By Amber Archangel

Pumpkin Power: Turning Food Waste into Energy

It might not be long until the 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins we produce annually are nearly as important to our energy security as they are to Halloween!

The story is a little different in Oakland, California. Thanks to the pioneering work of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), discarded pumpkins and other food waste are used as a source of renewable electricity.

What Does This Project Do?

• Oakland’s EBMUD collect food waste and uses microbes to convert it into methane gas that is burned to generate electricity.
• The Energy Department is helping to fund the development of integrated biorefineries, industrial centers dedicated to converting plant material into biofuels and other products.

With the passing of Halloween, millions of pounds of pumpkins have turned from seasonal decorations to trash destined for compost heaps or landfills.

How is that possible? First, waste haulers gather post-consumer food waste and deliver it to EBMUD’s anaerobic digesters. Inside these giant tanks, bacteria break down the food waste and release methane gas as a byproduct. EBMUD captures this gas and uses it to generate electricity in onsite generators. A ton of food waste provides about 367 m3 of gas, and digesting 100 tons of food wastes five days a week can generate enough electricity to power 1,000 homes. Once the food waste has been digested, the remaining solids make an excellent natural fertilizer, so they can be used to get next year’s pumpkin crop started.

Discarded pumpkins and other organic waste material can be used for more than just electricity.

The Energy Department is working together with industry to develop and test integrated biorefineries, industrial centers capable of efficiently converting plant material into affordable biofuels, biopower, and other products. These projects are located around the country and use a variety of materials as feedstocks.

Two of them, Enerkem in Mississippi and INEOS Bio in Florida, use municipal solid waste as a feedstock, like EBMUD, but use a process called gasification to produce ethanol and electricity. In 2012, INEOS Bio is planning to open the Indian River County Bioenergy Center, which will produce 8,000,000 gallons of ethanol, enough to fill about 232 of the largest railroad tank cars, and 6 megawatts of electricity a year from 300 dry tons of biomass a day, including yard waste and food scraps.

In Mississippi, Enerkem is planning a biorefinery on a regional landfill. They plan to convert 300 tons of solid waste a day into ethanol, amounting to 10,000,000 gallons (290 tank cars) of ethanol per year.

The Energy Department’s partnership with these companies is helping to remove barriers to commercialization of fuel and power production from municipal solid waste, including yard and food wastes, and so it might not be long until the 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins we produce annually are nearly as important to our energy security as they are to Halloween!

Photo credit - Matthew Loveless Content Courtesy - Energy.Gov

Walmart: Renewable Energy-Sustainable Products-Zero Waste

Walmart reports: In front of an audience of associates, suppliers and nonprofit organizations at its Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting, Walmart highlighted on September 12, 2013, its progress with the Sustainability Index, a measurement system used to track the environmental impact of products. The company also outlined key initiatives where it can use its size and scale to help address “hot spots” and accelerate progress in supply chain sustainability. By Amber Archangel. The following is an official Walmart news release:

Walmart Highlights Progress on the Sustainability Index
Outlines key initiatives in recycling, chemicals, fertilizers and energy efficiency
Broadens Index to international markets
Index projected to include 300 product categories, engage up to 5,000 suppliers by end of year

Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke:

We’ve reached an acceleration point where we are moving from measurement to results. We’re starting to really drive progress with the Index. This is about trust and value. Using less energy, greener chemicals, fewer fertilizers and more recycled materials – all of this – is the right thing to do for the planet and it’s right for our customers and our business.



As of today, the Index has been rolled out across 200 product categories, and to more than 1,000 suppliers. By the end of this year, we expect the Index will expand to include more than 300 product categories and as many as 5,000 suppliers.
Since the Index rolled out broadly to Walmart product categories in August 2012, it has shown a consistent trend of improved product sustainability. For example, Walmart’s general merchandise department has improved its Index product sustainability score by an average of 20 percent; grocery department by an average of 12 percent; and consumables and health and wellness by an average of 6 percent.

Kara Hurst, CEO of The Sustainability Consortium: 

With the Sustainability Index, Walmart is applying the science and research that we’ve developed to create a more sustainable supply chain globally. We’re excited about the significant progress Walmart and its suppliers are making and value their partnership with us to address big issues and drive real social and environmental change.

Based on the insights and data from the Index, Walmart has been working with suppliers, nonprofits, industry experts and government to develop and implement solutions that address critical “hot spots” and opportunities across the global supply chain. As part of the progress update at today’s meeting, executives, merchants and suppliers shared progress on five major initiatives underway:

• Increasing the Use of Recycled Materials. More than 29 million tons of valuable plastics are sent to landfills every year in the U.S. at a cost of about $6.6 billion annually. Walmart aims to grow both the supply and demand for recycled plastics so they can be diverted from landfill and get a second life. The company is working with cities to increase plastic recycling and with suppliers to increase the use of recycled content and make packaging more recyclable. Changes in packaging are already being implemented in product categories such as beverage, over-the-counter drugs, dairy creamers and berry containers. 

Earlier this week, Walmart and Sam’s Club also announced a smartphone trade-in program in the U.S. that goes into effect on Sept. 21.

The company will not send these trade-ins to landfills, domestically or internationally, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of smartphones from landfills annually.

• Offering Products with Greener Chemicals. Walmart provided an overview of its new Consumables Chemicals initiative, describing how it is working with suppliers to reduce or eliminate the use of priority chemicals used in consumables products in favor of greener alternatives. It will begin with household cleaning, personal care, beauty and cosmetic products, asking suppliers to transition to greener substitutes for priority chemicals.

In addition, starting in Jan. 2014, Walmart will begin to label its private brand cleaning products in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Product Labeling program, and will continue to assess the applicability of DfE as Walmart expands it to broader product areas.

• Reducing Fertilizer Use in Agriculture. Walmart is requiring suppliers who use commodity grains, such as corn, wheat and soy in their products, to develop a fertilizer optimization plan that outlines clear goals to improve performance based on Index research. Through this program, the company and its suppliers have the potential to reduce fertilizer use on 14 million acres of farmland in the U.S. by 2020.
• Expanding the Sustainability Index to International Markets. Walmart will expand the Sustainability Index and measurement to international markets with the goal of improving product sustainability at the global level. Walmart Chile and Walmart Mexico will launch the Index in their respective markets in 2014. In addition, South Africa’s Massmart has begun to include key Index questions in its supplier sustainability surveys.
• Improving Energy Efficiency. The Index has uncovered the importance of energy efficiency in several product categories, such as televisions, plastic toys, small appliances and greeting cards. By working with suppliers to improve energy efficiency through the supply chain of these products, Index energy scores have already improved 23 percent in general merchandise categories. Walmart is now providing tools for suppliers to help track and reduce the energy used to produce these products.

The company also announced a light-emitting diode (LED) lightbulb available in stores now under its Great Value label.
A 40 watt equivalent bulb, which last more than twice as long as a compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL), typically retails for $8.48 and the 60 watt equivalent $9.88. By selling 500,000 LED lightbulbs, the company projects customers can save more than $67 million over the lifetime of those bulbs.
Content Courtesy - 1sun4all