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Duke Energy 2015 sustainability report covers hydropower

Out of Duke Energy’s 57,030 MW of generation capacity, hydropower accounted for 4,429 MW in 2015, according to the 2015 Sustainability Report.
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Out of Duke Energy’s 57,030 MW of generation capacity, hydropower accounted for 4,429 MW in 2015, according to the 2015 Sustainability Report.

According to the report, hydro and solar (which are reported together) accounted for 7% of the utility’s owned generation capacity in 2015. However, hydro and solar only generated 1% of the total net output in gigawatt-hours.

Highlights from 2015 listed in the report include receiving the new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission operating licenses for the 740-MW Catawba-Wateree and 108.6-MW Yadkin-Pee Dee hydroelectric projects.

In Duke’s International Energy division, with activities primarily in Latin America, hydro accounted for 70% of the owned generation capacity in 2015.

Fitting with the company’s goal of “striving toward a lower-carbon future,” the report indicates: “Our tons of CO2 emissions have decreased 28 percent since 2005. In addition, the CO2 intensity of our generating fleet is more than 23 percent lower, producing fewer emissions per kWh. More than 40 percent of the electricity we generated in 2015 was from carbon-free sources: nuclear, hydro, wind and solar.”

“This year’s Sustainability Report focuses on how Duke Energy is adapting to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We are fine-tuning our business approach and better integrating innovation and technology as we prepare for a future that includes complex environmental regulations, global efforts to stem climate change and variable customer usage trends,” says Cari Boyce, vice president-policy, sustainability and stakeholder strategy.

The 42-page report is available here and is issued annually.

Duke Energy is “the largest electric power holding company in the United States, supplying and delivering energy to approximately 7.4 million U.S. customers,” according to the website.