What does the US need to do for renewables in 2022?

If we want an 80% zero-carbon in 2030 here are the goals we need to hit in 2022.

All goals are in billions of Kilowatt-hours (BK) 

New non-carbon generation:  200 BK

New storage: 5 BK with enough project starts to hit 20 BK in 2023

Number of residential premises brought to high standard of insulation: 10,000,000 (130 million total residences need upgrades)

New standard for building codes for insulation: R-50 in the walls and R-80 in the attic

New Energy Star Standards: air fryers, cell phone chargers, tablet and chargers, Higher standards for Freezers are needed. 

New Electric Transmission Rules: Limit the reasons someone can sue and if they fail make them pay costs and for the cost of the delay. 

New manufacturing capacity in the US: 15 GW of solar PV, 5GW of wind turbines, with factory starts to build 5 GW of offshore turbines in 2023. At least 20 GW of transformers large enough to rebuild substations (e.g., 20-200MW with a high side of more than 69KV)

Off-shore wind support fleet: 4 tower erection ships, 2 nacelle lift ships, and a dozen off-shore support craft capable of towing floating solar, placing anchors, and laying electric cable. 

New mining and processing capability in the US: 300,000 tons of lithium per year – both mining and processing. Rare earth mining (e.g., Neodymium oxide) needs to increase from approximately 40 tons per year to 200 tons in 2022 with processing capability to do all the processing in North America. 

New research – sodium ion battery research needs a huge kick in the pants, given the lack of lithium in the world. Better ways of recycling batteries and other renewables components. Ways to reduce the cost and time of undergrounding electric lines, and hydrogen storage improvement (e.g., metal hydrides and sorbants). 

2023’s goals are even more aggressive. But if we don’t get aggressive now…it will be worse later. 

DOE could help immensely by requiring at least 60% US material content in all loans and grants.