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U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials: A GIS-Based Analysis

U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials: A GIS-Based Analysis

Full Title:  U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials: A GIS-Based Analysis
Author(s):
Publisher(s): NREL
Publication Date: July 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

Renewable energy technical potential, as defined in this study, represents the achievable energy generation of a particular technology given system performance, topographic limitations, environmental, and land-use constraints. The primary benefit of assessing technical potential is that it establishes an upper-boundary estimate of development potential (DOE EERE 2006).

Although numerous studies have quantified renewable resource potential, comparing their results is difficult because of the different assumptions, methodologies, reporting units, and analysis time frames used (DOE EERE 2006). A national study of resource- based renewable energy technical potential across technologies has not been publicly available due to the challenges of unifying assumptions for all geographic areas and technologies (DOE EERE 2006).

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