EPRI reports immediate, accelerated action needed across all energy sectors to reach U.S. carbon goals by 2030

A new report from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) found that immediate, concerted action is needed from all energy sectors in order for the United States to reach its 2030 goals for carbon reduction.

Most importantly, the research and development organization determined that achieving the Biden administration’s goal within the decade will require tripling the current pace of decarbonization. So far, the electric sector has achieved a 35 percent reduction in carbon output in the last 15 years, and other sectors are beginning to adopt clean energy technologies, but it is not yet enough.

“As economy-wide carbon reduction shifts from an aspiration to an expectation, U.S. and world leaders are doubling down on the clean energy transformation,” EPRI President and CEO Arshad Mansoor said. “While achieving bold U.S. carbon goals is possible, realizing this vision affordably and reliably means leveraging all technology solutions at our disposal, growing supply chains, and skilled labor, and accelerating innovation, regulatory, permitting, and other processes to enable action. By aligning on key priorities, government and industry can pave the way for a thriving clean energy economy.”

As clean electricity expands, electricity use, in general, could increase by up to 23 percent, according to this analysis. Electric vehicles will play a major role in this, with adoption levels slated to hit 20 to 30 times beyond current levels. Even with increased electricity use, energy costs could decline for many, thanks to increased electrification and improved energy efficiency.

All of that is the future, though, and EPRI also chronicled what needs to happen now to make it possible. For one thing, more electricity generating capacity will be required each year, amounting to more than 500 GW overall — or roughly half of the total U.S. generating capacity at present. This is driven by the shift to cleaner sources, which will also affect where and when power is needed, meaning reliability will become even more of a concern. The new renewable generation will also require 20 percent more inter-regional transmission to support it, as increased long-distance transmission investments and transmission development are required.

EPRI envisioned two paths to this: either the electric sector makes an 80 percent carbon reduction to achieve the economy-wide target, or all sectors share the burden, and the electric sector cuts its emissions by 66 percent. The latter case would, by its estimates, be cheaper for consumers, but both could make net-zero goals viable in the long term.