Nebraska Renewable Energy Consumption
In 2023, Nebraska consumed 872.37 trillion British thermal units (Btu) of primary energy and 164.50 trillion Btu of energy from renewable energy resources. (Figure 1)
Renewable resources met 19 percent of Nebraska's energy consumption. Nebraska consumed energy from these renewable resources in 2023:
- Biofuels (Fuel Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Losses and Co–products)
- Geothermal Energy
- Hydroelectric Power (Conventional)
- Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Energy
- Wind Energy
- Wood and Waste (Biomass)
From 1960 to 1980, renewable energy in Nebraska consisted of conventional hydroelectric power and wood and waste (biomass). Ethanol entered the picture in the early 1980s. Geothermal energy and photovoltaic and solar thermal energy projects were reported in the late 1980s. Wind energy projects came on line in the late 1990s. Consumption of renewable energy has steadily increased.
As a percentage of primary energy consumption, renewable energy consumption was relatively stable until 1995 when the percentage began an upward climb. Biofuels had a major role in this increase. In this report, biofuels consist of ethanol consumption and biodiesel consumption plus the energy used to produce ethanol and biodiesel and the energy value contained in the dry/wet co–products. Renewable energy consumption has ranged from 1.3 percent to 19.0 percent of total energy consumption.
This report provides the amount of renewable energy used by Nebraskans. The amount of renewable energy that generated electricity can be found in the report Annual Electricity Generation by Fuel Type.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2020 - 2023 | 45.02 KB |
| 1990 - 2019 | 48.03 KB |
| 1960 - 1989 | 47.8 KB |
Sources: State Energy Data Report. Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, Lincoln, NE.
This report was updated on March 2, 2026.
Typically, there is a year between updates.