over $80 billion annually in health and climate benefits

A landmark study found that between 2019 and 2022, wind and solar power in the United States provided $249 billion in climate and health benefits. The study highlights the significant and often overlooked positive impact of renewable energy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.

As things stand, we are not doing enough to combat human-caused global heating. This much is clear. But instead of focusing on the negatives, maybe we should also look at the positives. About 20 years ago, solar and wind power were essentially irrelevant in the U.S. energy mix. Currently, over 20% of the country’s electricity comes from renewable sources, and this number is growing every year.

Only in the years 2019–2022, the use of wind and solar energy in the country resulted in a reduction in CO emissions₂ greenhouse gas emissions by 900 million metric tons, which is equivalent to taking 71 million cars off the road every year. However, it is often difficult to estimate specific, immediate benefits resulting from this. That’s where the new study comes in: researchers provide comprehensive estimates of avoided emissions and their associated benefits.

They found that wind and solar power significantly reduced emissions from the electricity sector, which led to fewer premature deaths and significant economic savings.

Quantification of benefits

The benefits of wind and solar energy are quantitatively divided into two main categories: climate benefits and air quality benefits. Climate benefits come from reducing CO2 emissions, which contribute to global warming. In turn, air quality benefits result from SO reduction₂ and not_X greenhouse gases that are harmful to human health.

“Generating electricity from wind and solar is key to global decarbonization. Government support for wind and solar generators is often weighed against their benefits to the climate and air quality. To accurately assess these benefits, assessments must be updated to reflect changes in the power system and incorporate the latest research assessing emissions costs,” write Berkeley researchers and study authors Dev Millstein, Eric O’Shaughnessy and Ryan Wiser.

SO₂ and not_X emissions (both produced by burning fossil fuels) contribute to respiratory and circulatory diseases. Reducing them resulted in fewer premature deaths and significant savings in health care costs. The study estimates that wind and solar energy prevented between 1,200 and 1,600 premature deaths in 2022 alone, saving billions in health care costs annually.

Importantly, the study was able to determine the monetary value of the renewable energy produced. Air quality benefits were estimated at $36 per MWh for wind and $17 per MWh for solar, based on reduced health harms. However, the benefits are even greater when it comes to climate.

A healthier climate saves you money

Unlike previous assessments, this new approach uses publicly available data and takes into account recent advances in understanding the social costs of carbon emissions (SCC) and the health impacts of air pollution.

They used air quality and climate models to calculate a total of $185 per metric ton of CO₂. This figure takes into account both health and climate benefits. In 2022, the climate benefits alone were $143 per MWh for wind and $100 per MWh for solar. Thus, scientists estimated that renewable energy costs more than $80 billion per year.

These are all benefits that are often ignored when calculating the costs of transitioning to a clean economy. Analyzes often focus on direct costs, ignoring these types of additional benefits.

The study also highlighted regional differences in the benefits of wind and solar energy. Pollution emissions and health impacts vary across regions in the US. This, of course, leads to differences in estimated benefits. For example, regions with higher coal production tend to benefit more from wind energy due to greater SO reductions₂ emissions.

Renewable energy is cheaper than we thought

One of the key strengths of this study is its methodological rigor and transparency. The researchers used a repeatable approach that relies on simple, publicly available data. This makes it easier to update the estimates annually and apply the methodology to other regions and countries.

The study’s authors hope that both the public and policymakers will pay attention to this. The findings show that the significant benefits of wind and solar power underscore the need for continued support and investment in renewable energy. Policymakers can use these findings to justify subsidies and incentives for wind and solar power, as well as to develop regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

It is important to remember that switching to renewable energy is not only about costs and investments. As this study has shown, the benefits far outweigh the direct financial costs. Wind and solar energy not only contribute to a healthier environment, but also provide significant economic savings by lowering health care costs and mitigating climate change.

The study was published in Cell Reports Sustainability.