REN21’s renewable energy report comes in the midst of a global economic crisis, but shows there are many reasons to be optimistic with recent growth in the sector surpassing all predictions, including those made within the industry. According to the report, renewable energy resisted the credit crunch in 2008 more successfully than many other sectors for much of the year.
Selected report highlights:
– Global wind power capacity grew 29 percent in 2008, reaching 121 GW.
– China doubled it’s wind capacity for the fifth year in a row.
– Grid connect solar power grew by 70 percent to reach 13 GW.
– Spain became a leader in photovoltaics, with 2.6GW of new grid connect installations.
– Germany installed over 200,000 solar hot water systems in 2008.
– Geothermal capacity was in excess of 10GW in 2008.
– Ground source heat pumps are now used in at least 76 countries.
– India became a major producer of solar panels last year.
– Feed in tariffs were implemented at a national level for the first time in at least 5 countries.
– More than 64 countries now have policies in place to promote renewable power generation.
– At least 73 countries have renewable energy policy targets, up from 66 at the end of 2007.
REN21 is a global policy network that provides a forum for international leadership on renewable energy. Its goal is to bolster policy development for the rapid expansion of renewable energies in developing and industrialised economies.
Download the Renewables Global Status Report 2009 Update (pdf, 880KB)
