by Shane Henson — January 2, 2013—The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released updated projections for U.S. energy markets through 2040.
Through the EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2013 reference case, readers can learn how evolving consumer preferences, improved technology, and economic changes are pushing the nation toward more domestic energy production, greater vehicle efficiency, greater use of clean energy and reduced energy imports.
The reference case focuses on the factors that shape U.S. energy markets, and projects that the use of renewable energy in the United States as a percentage of total energy use will grow from 13 percent in 2011 to 16 percent in 2040, says the EIA. Facilities managers who have been contemplating using solar or wind energy to reduce energy costs may be interested to know that electricity generation from both of these renewable energies will expand because recent cost declines make them more economical.
The EIA report also projects increased sales of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which grow to about 1.3 million vehicles in 2035—about 20 percent higher than last year’s reference case. The 2013 report also noted that continued fuel economy improvement in vehicles using other alternative fuels, gasoline, and diesel, combined with growth in the use of hybrid technologies (including micro, mild, full, and plug-in hybrid vehicles), limit the use of electric vehicles over the projection.
The EIA further notes that as a result of improved energy efficiency and a shift away from the most carbon-intensive fuels, U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions could remain more than 5 percent below their 2005 level through 2040. In particular, emissions from gasoline are expected to be lower in the 2013 reference case than in the 2012 report as a result of the adoption of fuel economy standards, biofuel mandates, and shifts in consumer behavior.
The AEO2013 Early Release Overview is available on the EIA Web site.
