United States experiences slight decline in hydro output

Hydropower is still by far the most important source of electricity generated by renewable energy sources in United States. However, in the first quarter of 2014, there was a slight decline in hydropower output, which for the first time resulted that non-hydro renewables generated more clean electricity than hydropower.

The latest issue of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Electric Power Monthly states that in the first quarter of this year non-hydro renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal and biomass) generated 53.16% of total renewable electricity generation in the country, while hydro accounted for 46.84%.

The report also says that hydropower output has fallen by 4.5% in the first quarter of 2104, most likely due to the drought problems in California, while the electrical output from other renewable energy sources grew by 11.3% in the same period.

Renewable electricity generation by wind is no longer far behind hydro as in the first quarter of 2014 wind provided 4.82% of net U.S. electrical generation as compared to 6.13% coming from hydropower.

Solar and wind are attracting lion's share of renewable energy investments despite the fact that US still has plenty of untapped hydro potential. This trend is likely to continue, though hydro will for foreseeable future likely remain US No.1. renewable energy source.

Hydropower is proven technology with the long history of use in United States. US is currently the world's fourth largest hydroelectricity producer, behind China, Canada and Brazil.