Listed below are all documents and RMI.org site pages related to this topic.
Energy and Resources - Renewables, 18 Items
Guide, 2010
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/2010-06_MicropowerDatabase
2010 Edition: The purpose of the micropower database is to present a clear, rigorous, and independent assessment of the global capacity and electrical output of micropower (all renewables, except large hydro, and cogeneration), showing its development over time and documenting all data and assumptions. With minor exceptions, this information is based on bottom-up, transaction-by-transaction equipment counts reported by the relevant suppliers and operators, cross-checked against assessments by reputable governmental and intergovernmental technical agencies. For most technologies, historic data from 1990 through 2008 or 2009 is available, as well as forecasts through 2013. Available information includes global annual capacity additions and output, global cumulative capacity, and capacity factor. The Micropower Database Methodology is also included here. The 2008 Micropower Database is also available.
Journal or Magazine Article, 2010
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/2010-08_RenewablesMicropowerElectricityLandscape
This article, published in RMI's Spring 2010 Solutions Journal, describes micropower's acceleration in taking over the global market long dominated by central thermal stations. This conclusion is supported by RMI's Micropower Database (available to download), which recalculates cogeneration capacity and output from primary data sources.
Report or White Paper, 2009
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/2009-08_AssessingElectricProductivityGap
This paper explores how effectively the United States has used electricity and compares energy efficiency implementation by state. This paper analyzes state-level electric productivity to determine which states are the most productive with their electricity.
Report or White Paper, 2009
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/E09-01_NuclearPowerClimateFixOrFolly
This semi-technical article, summarizing a detailed and documented technical paper (see "The Nuclear Illusion" (2008)), compares the cost, climate protection potential, reliability, financial risk, market success, deployment speed, and energy contribution of new nuclear power with those of its low- or no-carbon competitors.
Presentation, 2009
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/2009-15_NuclearPowersCompetitiveLandscape
A hotly debated topic, the present and future state of nuclear power and its competitors are the subject of this presentation by Amory Lovins at RMI2009. This presentation was part of a plenary debate with Robert Rosner entitled, "Nuclear: Fix or Folly?". The accompanying video of the entire debate is available at RMI's Video page.
Journal or Magazine Article, 2009
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/2009-09_FourNuclearMyths
Some nuclear-power advocates claim that wind and solar power can't provide much if any reliable power because they're not "baseload," that they use too much land, that all energy options including new nuclear build are needed to combat climate change, and that nuclear power's economics don't matter because climate change will force governments to dictate energy choices and pay for whatever is necessary. None of these claims can withstand analytic scrutiny.
Conference Proceedings, 2008
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/2008-22_IntermittentRenewablesInNGU
This paper, presented at PowerGenRE2008, evaluates the potential reduction in variability of intermittent renewables due to the geographical dispersion of wind resources across large geographic areas.
Journal or Magazine Article, 2008
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/E08-04_ForgetNuclear
This article compares the cost, climate protection potential, reliability, financial risk, market success, deployment speed, and energy contribution of new nuclear power with those of its low- or no-carbon competitors.
Guide, 2008
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/E05-04_MicropowerDatabase
2008 Edition: The purpose of the micropower database is to present a clear, rigorous, and independent assessment of the global capacity and electrical output of micropower (all renewables, except large hydro, and cogeneration), showing its development over time and documenting all data and assumptions. With minor exceptions, this information is based on bottom-up, transaction-by-transaction equipment counts reported by the relevant suppliers and operators, cross-checked against assessments by reputable governmental and intergovernmental technical agencies. For most technologies, historic data from 1990 through 2005 or 2006 is available, as well as forecasts through 2010. Available information includes global annual capacity additions and output, global cumulative capacity, and capacity factor. The Micropower Database Methodology is also included here. The 2010 Micropower Database contains updated data.
Report or White Paper, 2008
http://rmi.org/rmi/Library/E08-01_NuclearIllusion
This paper challenges the view that nuclear power is competitive, necessary, reliable, secure, and affordable. The authors explain why nuclear power is uncompetitive, unneeded, and obsolete.