Renewable Energy Reaches 20% of Global Energy Capacity

The REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report shows that the renewable energy sector continues to perform well despite continuing economic recession, incentive cuts, and low natural-gas prices. In 2010, renewable energies supplied an estimated 16% of global energy consumption and delivered close to 20% of global electricity, says the report. Renewable capacity now comprises about a quarter of total global power-generating capacity.

And renewable energy also hit a milestone in the US: domestic production is now greater than nuclear and is closing in on oil, according to the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). For 2011, renewable energy sources (biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, water, wind) supplied  11.73% of U.S. energy, 5.65% more than nuclear power, and 77.15% of that from domestic crude oil production, with the gap closing rapidly. Looking at all energy sectors (e.g., electricity, transportation, thermal), production of renewable energy (including hydropower) increased by 15.07% compared to Q1 2010, and by 25.07 compared to Q1 2009. Biomass/biofuels accounted for 48.06%, hydropower for 35.41%, wind for 12.87%, geothermal for 2.45%, and solar for 1.16%. "Notwithstanding the recent nuclear accident in Japan and the rapid growth in energy and electricity from renewable sources, congressional Republicans continue to press for more nuclear energy funding while seeking deep cuts in renewable energy investments," says Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. "One has to wonder ‘what are these people thinking?'"

Global Solar PV

Global solar PV production and markets more than doubled in comparison with 2009, thanks to government incentive programs and the continued fall in PV module prices. Germany installed more PV in 2010 than the entire world added in 2009. PV markets in Japan and the U.S. almost doubled relative to 2009. Globally, wind power added the most new capacity (followed by hydropower and solar PV), but for the first time ever, Europe added more PV than wind capacity.

Incentive Policies  

Renewable energy policies continue to be the main driver behind the industy's growth. By early 2011, at least 119 countries had a renewable energy policy and/or target at the national level, more than doubling from 55 countries in early 2005. More than half of these countries are in the developing world. Of all the policies employed by governments, feed-in tariffs remain the most common (and successful).