Wind and Solar Power Provide USD 249 Billion in Climate and Health Benefits Across US

A recent report by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reveals that wind and solar generation in the US delivered a substantial USD 249 billion in climate and air quality health benefits between 2019 and 2022. 

The study, which incorporates the latest developments in the electricity system, including the significant growth of wind and solar contributing over 30 percent of total generation in certain regions, offers updated insights into health and climate impact research. Employing a method facilitating annual updates and replication in new regions, the report evaluates the benefits of wind and solar generation by quantifying reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Key findings indicate that wind and solar generation yielded a combined climate and health benefit of USD 143/MWh-of-wind and USD 100/MWh-of-solar in 2022. Domestic air quality health benefits alone amounted to USD 36/MWh-of-wind and USD 17/MWh-of-solar, with the remainder attributed to climate benefits. Wind and solar generation in 2022 averted enough SO2 and NOx emissions to prevent 1,200 to 1,600 premature mortalities in the US, reflecting a 5th to 95th percentile uncertainty range.

The study utilised a statistical model to assess the reduction of natural gas and coal generation due to wind and solar, determining the likely quantity of avoided emissions. Subsequently, air quality models estimated the dollar value of domestic public health benefits from avoiding SO2 and NOx emissions, while the social cost of carbon was employed to calculate the dollar value of climate benefits. 

As per the report, the generation-weighted average across all regions in 2022 indicates that 1.0 MWh of wind generation offsets 0.89 MWh of fossil generation (0.29 MWh of coal generation and 0.60 MWh of gas generation). Additionally, 1.0 MWh of solar generation offsets 0.76 MWh of fossil generation (0.14 MWh of coal generation and 0.62 MWh of gas generation).

Notably, these offsets aren't one-to-one due to transmission losses from solar and wind sources, typically situated farther from consumers than fossil-fuel sources, along with curtailment issues. Additionally, the absorption of some generation by battery storage, which wasn't considered in the analysis, further impacts the equivalence. Moreover, sources like nuclear and hydroelectric power, generally unaffected by solar and wind generation, were excluded from the study, noted the researchers.

Regional estimates were developed to illustrate how variations in wind and solar plant locations affect benefits. Additionally, the report delves into topics such as the interregional trade of wind and solar generation, the added benefits of reducing methane emissions from natural gas production, life-cycle emissions from the manufacturing and construction of wind and solar plants, and the potential impact of battery storage on emission benefit calculations.