Renewables Accounted For 20% Of Power Generation In 2010

2010 saw renewable energy well and truly moving out of the realm of fringe and into mainstream power generation according to statistics from the REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report.

2010 saw renewable energy well and truly moving out of the realm of fringe and into mainstream power generation according to statistics from the REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report.

Last year saw renewable energy supplying an estimated 16% of global final energy consumption and provided nearly 20% of global electricity generation.

With an estimated 30GW of  hydropower included, renewable energy technologies made up approximately half of new power generating capacity added in 2010.

Far from being energy sources primarily for developed nations, developing countries now collectively have over half of the world’s renewable energy generation capacity.

“The increased renewable energy activity in developing countries highlighted in this year’s report is very encouraging, since most of the future growth in energy demand is expected to occur in developing countries,” said Mohamed El-Ashry, Chairman of REN21’s Steering Committee.

“More and more of the world’s people are gaining access to energy services through renewables, not only to meet their basic needs, but also to enable them to develop economically.”

Globally, solar PV production and markets more than doubled in comparison with 2009. Germany remained a solar stronghold; installing more solar panels in 2010 than the entire world did in 2009.

Europe as a whole installed more PV than wind power capacity for the first time and the EU blew past its 2010 targets for wind, solar PV, concentrating solar thermal power, and heating/heat pumps.

Last year, China was the world leader in terms of wind turbine and solar hot water system installation. The top five countries for non-hydro renewable energy capacity were the United States, China, Germany, Spain and India respectively.

Investment in renewables reached a record $211 billion last year, nearly thirty three percent more than the $160 billion invested in 2009, and more than five times the amount invested in 2004.

By early this year, at least 119 countries had a form of policy target or renewable support policy, more than double than in 2005 when only 55 countries offered rebates, incentives or other types of renewable energy support.

The full REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report can be downloaded here (PDF).

Get a quick solar quote, or contact us today toll free on 1800 EMATTERS or email our friendly team for expert, obligation-free advice!

Other Energy Matters news services: