Francesco La Camera
New knowledge launched by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reveals that renewable energy continued to develop and achieve momentum regardless of world uncertainties. By the top of 2021, world renewable era capability amounted to three,064 GW, rising the inventory of renewable power by 9.1%.
Although hydropower accounted for the most important share of the worldwide whole renewable era capability with 1,230 GW, IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2022 reveals that solar and wind continued to dominate new producing capability. Together, each applied sciences contributed 88% to the share of all new renewable capability in 2021. Solar capability led with 19% improve, adopted by wind energy, which elevated its producing capability by 13%.
“This continued progress is another testament of renewable energy’s resilience,” says IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera. “Its strong performance last year represents more opportunities for countries to reap renewables’ multiple socio-economic benefits. However, despite the encouraging global trend, our new World Energy Transitions Outlook shows that the energy transition is far from being fast or widespread enough to avert the dire consequences of climate change.”
“Our current energy crisis also adds to the evidence that the world can no longer rely on fossil fuels to meet its energy demand. Money directed to fossil fuel power plants yields unrewarding results, both for the survival of a nation and the planet. Renewable power should become the norm across the globe. We must mobilize the political will to accelerate the 1.5°C pathway.”
To obtain local weather objectives, renewables should develop at a quicker tempo than energy demand. However, many nations haven’t reached this level but, regardless of considerably rising using renewables for electrical energy era.
Sixty per cent of the brand new capability in 2021 was added in Asia, leading to a complete of 1.46 TW of renewable capability by 2021. China was the most important contributor, including 121 GW to the continent’s new capability. Europe and North America – led by the U.S. – took second and third locations respectively, with the previous including 39 GW, and the latter 38 GW. Renewable energy capability grew by 3.9% in Africa and three.3% in Central America and the Caribbean. Despite representing regular development, the tempo in each areas is way slower than the worldwide common, indicating the necessity for stronger worldwide cooperation to optimize electrical energy markets and drive huge investments in these areas.
Growth in hydropower elevated steadily in 2021 with the commissioning of a number of giant initiatives delayed by means of 2021. Wind enlargement continued at a decrease charge in 2021 in comparison with 2020 (+93 GW in comparison with +111 GW final yr).
With a rise in new capability in all main world areas in earlier years, whole world solar capability has now outgrown wind energy capability. Net capability enlargement elevated in 2021 (+10.3 GW in comparison with +9.1 GW in 2020).
Geothermal capability had an distinctive development in 2021, with 1.6 GW added. Off-grid capability grew by 466 MW in 2021 (+4%) to succeed in 11.2 GW.
Read the complete Renewable Capacity Statistics 2022 right here.
