USC specialists investigate Earth Day emphasis on renewable energy

Since 1970, Earth Day has fostered environmental consciousness on April 22 annually. This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” a call to action to increase renewable energy and clean electricity on a global scale three times by 2030.

California stands as a national leader in renewable energy, with ambitious targets set, including 60% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2045. Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower are being more widely incorporated into the state’s power generation.

The World Economic Forum projects that the shift to clean energy will create 10.3 million new jobs globally by 2030, countering the anticipated loss of 2.7 million jobs within the fossil fuel sector.

USC News consulted several of the university’s leading authorities regarding the future of energy sources that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

How can renewable energy systems enhance efficiency?

“The efficiency of renewable energy resources, like wind and solar, is steadily improving thanks to technological advancements,” stated Shon Hiatt, associate professor of management and organization at the USC Marshall School of Business and director of the Business of Energy Transition initiative.

“Importantly, the efficiency of wind turbines has risen with the introduction of larger turbines, mostly utilized for offshore purposes (35%-40%). Likewise, solar panel efficiency has peaked at around 29% for premium models. Nonetheless, the capability of renewable energy sources to meet global demand is restricted. Non-baseload power sources, such as wind and solar, encounter challenges in providing a stable energy supply due to their reliance on unpredictable weather patterns. As more intermittent energy sources are incorporated into the grid, energy expenses increase due to the hurdles in fulfilling demand stipulations, placing a strain on consumers and businesses.

“On the other hand, geothermal energy presents a promising substitute as a baseload renewable energy source. The expenses for developing geothermal energy are diminishing, propelled by the adoption of horizontal drilling techniques borrowed from hydraulic fracturing, resulting in a cost reduction of one-third for drilling. Furthermore, regulatory costs for geothermal energy are considerably less than those associated with nuclear energy, and the United States has significant untapped geothermal possibilities.

“Looking forward to the next five to ten years, it is anticipated that the main electricity sources to meet the expanding needs of AI data centers in the United States will be combined-cycle natural gas and geothermal energy, with nuclear energy likely to arise as a feasible alternative in the 2030s.”

How can we elevate renewable energy to satisfy global requirements?

“In the last decade, the levelized cost of renewable electricity sources like wind and solar has dramatically fallen. In numerous areas, these technologies are currently
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“more economical than producing energy with conventional fossil fuels,” stated Kelly Sanders, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

“Moreover, the expense of utility-scale batteries has decreased dramatically, addressing worries regarding the inconsistency of solar and wind energy when integrated with storage technologies. Looking forward, we expect further improvements that will diminish component costs and enhance both the efficiency and durability of these systems, rendering wind and solar even more affordable. However, to hasten the shift to renewable energy, specific policies and regulations that simplify the advancement of the transmission and distribution infrastructure necessary for linking renewable resources to load centers are essential.”

What policies and regulations are required to speed up the renewable energy transition?

“The existing energy and environmental policies and regulations, including incentive initiatives and established objectives, have accomplished significant progress in renewable energy development in the U.S. over the past two decades,” remarked Mohammed Beshir, professor of electrical engineering-systems practice at USC Viterbi. “Primary among these incentives and regulations are the investment tax credit (ITC) and the production tax credit (PTC) provided by the U.S. federal program, along with the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and net-metering (NM) programs operated by individual states. These initiatives are frequently combined with local government and utility company rebate and other incentive programs.

“All together, these policies and initiatives have facilitated extensive deployment of solar and wind energy resources in the U.S. in recent years, exceeding 180 gigawatts of solar and 150 gigawatts of wind by 2024. This represents a substantial portion of electric power demand being satisfied by renewable energy. This trend is predicted to persist in the future, provided that the aforementioned policies and programs continue. Any new energy policy that jeopardizes these previously mentioned initiatives will significantly hinder future growth in renewable systems.”

What function will nuclear energy serve in the future?

“Nuclear energy is set to act as a fundamental component of the global shift toward a low-carbon future,” indicated Najmedin Meshkati, professor of civil and environmental engineering, industrial systems engineering, and international relations at USC Viterbi.

“In contrast to intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar, nuclear power delivers dependable, large-scale baseload electricity that can stabilize energy grids and enhance clean energy portfolios. Recent policy shifts and industry advancements highlight this renewed energy. By 2050, nuclear energy capacity is projected to triple worldwide to achieve net-zero emissions targets, as promised by 22 countries at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023.”

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Who will gain from renewable energy?

“The transition to renewable energy is not only about technological advancement; it’s also about redefining beneficiaries,” said Manuel Pastor, director of the USC Equity Research Institute at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “My book, Charging Forward, explores California’s Lithium Valley and emphasizes this question: Can we extract lithium for electric vehicles in a manner that protects the environment, empowers local communities, and generates quality jobs?

“We must depart from our dependence on fossil fuels, but the transition to a clean energy economy should be both green and equitable, ensuring the switch to electric vehicles leads to shared prosperity for everyone.”

What are the environmental implications of renewable energy technologies?

“Renewable energy, like wind and solar, are classified as diffuse energy sources due to their energy densities,” Beshir stated. “This signifies that a substantial amount of land is necessary to harness enough energy to produce electricity compared to fossil fuel energy generation. Therefore, land-use and related environmental concerns are vital factors. The conversion of agricultural land for renewable energy production is a major issue in numerous regions globally. Additionally, the impact on the biological and habitats of plants and animals is significant. Other effects, including visual, noise, and avian impacts, are particularly critical for wind energy facilities. Other renewable sources such as biomass and ocean-generated energy also present considerable environmental challenges, pertaining to visual [impact] and effects on animal and plant habitats.”