Renewable energy supplied
an estimated 16% of global final energy
consumption
Paris, 12 July 2011
- The REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status
Report released today shows that the renewable
energy sector continues to perform well
despite continuing economic recession, incentive
cuts, and low natural-gas prices.
In 2010, renewable energy
supplied an estimated 16% of global final
energy consumption and delivered close to
20% of global electricity production. Renewable
capacity now comprises about a quarter of
total global power-generating capacity.
Including all hydropower (estimated 30 GW
added in 2010), RE accounted for approximately
50% of total added power generating capacity
in 2010.
In 2010, existing solar
water and space heating capacity increased
by an estimated 25 gigawatts-thermal (GWth),
or about 16%.
The report was commissioned
by REN21 and produced in collaboration with
a global network of research partners. (www.ren21.net).
"The global performance
of renewable energy despite headwinds has
been a positive constant in turbulent times",
says Mohamed El-Ashry, Chairman of REN21's
Steering Committee. "Today, more people
than ever before derive energy from renewables
as capacity continues to grow, prices continue
to fall, and shares of global energy from
renewable energy continue to increase."
Global solar PV production
and markets more than doubled in comparison
with 2009, thanks to government incentive
programmes 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.
Renewable energy policies
continue to be the main driver behind renewable
energy growth. By early 2011, at least 119
countries had some type of policy target
or renewable support policy at the national
level, more than doubling from 55 countries
in early 2005. More than half of these countries
are in the developing world.
At least 95 countries
now have some type of policy to support
renewable power generation. Of all the policies
employed by governments, feed-in tariffs
remain the most common.
Last year, investment
reached a record $211 billion in renewables
- about one-third more than the $160 billion
invested in 2009, and more than five times
the amount invested in 2004.
Money invested in renewable
energy companies, and in utility-scale generation
and biofuel projects increased to $143 billion,
with developing countries surpassing developed
economies for the first time, as shown in
the GSR's recently released companion report,
UNEP Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment
2011. China attracted $48.5 billion, or
more than a third of the global total, but
other developing countries also experienced
major developments in terms of policies,
investments, market trends, and manufacturing.
Beyond Asia, significant
advances are also seen in many Latin American
countries, and at least 20 countries in
the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan
Africa have active renewable energy markets,
the report says.
Developed countries
still led the way in investment in small-scale
power projects and R&D during 2010.
Germany, Italy and the US were the top three.
"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," says 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",
says El-Ashry. Renewable energy in even
the most remote areas is ensuring that more
of the world's people are gaining access
to basic energy services, including lighting
and communications, cooking, heating and
cooling, and water pumping, while also generating
economic growth through services such as
motive power.
Further highlights from
the Report:
*Renewable capacity
now comprises about a quarter of total global
power-generating capacity and supplies close
to 20% of global electricity, with most
of this provided by hydropower.
*Developing countries
(collectively) have more than half of global
renewable energy power.
*Solar PV capacity was
added in more than 100 countries.
*The top five countries
for non-hydro renewable power capacity were
the United States, China, Germany, Spain,
and India.
*In the United States,
renewables accounted for about 10.9% of
U.S. domestic primary energy production
(compared with nuclear's 11.3%), an increase
of 5.6% over 2009.
*In the United States,
30 states (plus Washington, D.C.) have Renewable
Portfolio Standards (RPS).
*China led the world
in the installation of wind turbines and
solar thermal systems and was the top hydropower
producer in 2010. The country added an estimated
29 GW of grid-connected renewable capacity,
for a total of 252 GW, an increase of 13%
compared with 2009.
*Renewables accounted
for about 26% of China's total installed
electric capacity in 2010, 18% of generation,
and more than 9% of final energy supply.
*Brazil produces virtually
all of the world's sugar-derived ethanol,
and has been adding new hydropower, biomass
and wind power plants, as well as solar
heating systems.
*In the European Union,
renewables represented an estimated 41%
of newly installed electric capacity. While
this share was significantly lower than
the more than 60% of new capacity in 2009,
more renewable power capacity was added
in Europe than ever before.
*The EU exceeded its
2010 targets for wind, solar PV, concentrating
solar thermal power, and heating/heat pumps.
Countries including Finland, Germany, Spain,
and Taiwan raised their targets, and South
Africa, Guatemala, and India, among others,
introduced new ones.
*Developing countries,
which now represent more than half of all
countries with policy targets and half of
all countries with renewable support policies,
are playing an increasingly important role
in advancing renewable energy.
REN21 is also launching
its Renewables Interactive Map - a streamlined
tool for gathering and sharing information
online about developments related to renewable
energy. www.map.ren21.net.
Notes to Editors
ABOUT REN21: REN21 is
the global renewable energy 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.
REN21 Secretariat is supported by both The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and The Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
REN21's Renewables Global
Status Report (GSR) comprehensively captures
the full status of renewable energy worldwide.
The report involves the amalgamation of
thousands of data points, hundreds of reports
and other documents, and personal communications
with experts from around the world. The
report has become a collaborative effort
among several authors, REN21 Secretariat
staff and Steering Committee members, regional
research partners, and more than 100 individual
contributors and reviewers.
REN21's Renewables Interactive
Map - a streamlined tool for gathering and
sharing information online about developments
related to renewable energy. www.map.ren21.net.
+ More
UNEP Support for Sustainable
Development Part of New Beginning for South
Sudan
UNEP organises tree planting and other sustainable
development activities in South Sudan
Juba (South Sudan),
12 July 2011 – Following the independence
ceremony for South Sudan on 9 July, the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
has reaffirmed its long-term commitment
to assisting the people of Sudan to maintain
peace, recovery and development on an environmentally
sustainable basis.
UNEP's Sudan Integrated
Environment Programme, which began in 2007,
will continue to support the effective management
of water, forests and other natural resources
in both the Republic of Sudan and the Republic
of South Sudan.
"UNEP remains committed
to the work at hand and we look forward
to continuing to play a constructive role
in addressing environmental issues in the
north and the south," said Robin Bovey,
UNEP's Sudan Programme Manager.
Mr Bovey and UNEP's
South Sudan Coordinator, Joseph Bartel,
represented UNEP at the historic independence
ceremony last week.
UNEP has been working
with the Government of Southern Sudan for
several years and already has an office
in Juba from where it implements projects
focusing on waste management, sustainable
forestry and environmental governance, among
others.
Speaking at the ceremony
in Juba, the United Nations Secretary-General
Mr Ban Ki-moon highlighted the role of natural
resources in shaping the future of South
Sudan.
"Together, we welcome
the Republic of South Sudan to the community
of nations and together we affirm our commitment
to helping it meet its many responsibilities
as a nation," said the Secretary-General.
"We must not underestimate
South Sudan's remarkable potential: its
resilient and talented people, abundant
natural resources, huge areas of arable
land, and the great Nile running through
it.
"With these assets,
South Sudan could grow into a prosperous,
productive nation capable of meeting the
needs of its people," the Secretary-General
said.
UNEP's commitment to
assisting the people of Sudan over a long-term
period was outlined in its Sudan Post-Conflict
Environmental Assessment, produced in 2007.
Since then, UNEP has
been working with national state and local
leaders, civil society and the international
community to make a tangible difference
on the ground. UNEP assisted the Higher
Council for Environment and Natural Resources
and the Sudan Ministry of Environment, Forestry
and Physical Development to develop the
South Sudan Environmental Policy 2010 and
the 2010 South Sudan Environment Act.
Earlier this year the
cleaning of central Juba entered a new era
with the introduction of the city's first
public garbage bins and solid waste management
contracts supervised by UNEP and Juba County,
with support from the Italian Development
Cooperation. The city centre is now being
cleaned twice a week, with the waste transported
to a landfill site outside the city.
The Keep Juba Green
tree planting campaign, a UNEP initiative,
has involved local communities in planting
one million trees in and around Juba since
mid 2010.
The main donor supporting
UNEP's work in the north and the south is
UKAid from the Department for International
Development.
