ARTICLE Renewables in the United States Renewable energy has played its largest-ever role in the United States in 2020, with hydrogen key to storing the surplus. As overall US energy demand recovered in 2021 from the can store large amounts of surplus energy with the flexibility impacts of Covid-19, renewables continued to increase their to discharge in short or long durations. Therefore, producing share of total generating capacity. We have estimated they will clean hydrogen with renewable energy is part of the solution to accelerate their penetration from 15% of US energy in 2021 to maintain our way of life without polluting. 25% or even 30% by 2026. GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT Renewables have a positive future ahead, but additions of Government involvement is moving at different speeds in the US capacity face challenges on the electrical grid. Intermittent and Europe. Demand for renewables has been market-led in the resources inherently lack dispatchability. Non-dispatchable US, while European governments led the way with subsidies. renewables generate power only when the sun shines or the That much is obvious, but I see other differences. wind blows, which is not always in sync with load demand. In America companies tend to move fast, then change course if A working solution is a complimentary profile of solar, wind, and needed. European governments want active participation, and storage resources that efficiently capture surplus output, creating European markets make more of an analytical effort before they a clean and dispatchable power generation source. Combining act. Risk profiles are probably better in Europe due to regulation, generation and efficient storage will stabilize the electricity grid but the offset is higher costs for renewables. The US have greater and optimize renewable resources. size, but the relative risk-reward is constrained, since there has been less government protection and stronger competition from “Hydrogen can store large fossil-fuel-based generation. amounts of surplus energy with However, the Biden administration has brought new impetus to renewables. In addition to infrastructure plans that will fuel the flexibility to discharge in short demand and the growth of renewable energy, we are already or long durations.” experiencing significant increases in indicators such as the value of voluntary renewable energy certificates (Green Tags per MWh). Customers are now paying two and three times 2020 Energy can be stored in many different ways, although many prices, and entering into longer term contracts. For hydrogen, the technologies are limited in size or discharge time. Hydrogen administration is proposing the creation of a tax credit mechanism 22