Renewable energy is fast emerging globally?from an alternative source of energy to a mainstream energy option ?in less than a decade since the Kyoto Protocol was adopted.
According to the REN21 Renewables Global Status Report 2007, compared with a total global power capacity of 4,300 gw, renewable energy (without large hydro) now provides about 240 gw clean power, avoiding some 5 gigatonne per year (gt/year) of carbon emissions.
The report finds that wind energy has the largest share of renewable energy investment and continues to grow at 25-30% a year to reach more than 90 gw cumulative capacity in 2007 – 11 times the capacity in 1997.
Grid-tied electricity from solar photovoltaic technology (solar PV) continues to grow at 50-60% annually, and now accounts for almost 8 gw. Solar hot water systems now provide hot water to more than 50 million households worldwide and 25 million rural households benefit from biogas, small wind power, household solar power, and other technologies.
?With more than 70 countries installing wind power and biomass power generation expanding in more than 40 countries, renewable energy is clearly a global sector,? Mohamed El-Ashry, head of the global policy network REN21 that produced the report with the Worldwatch Institute, said. ?Growth is being driven by policies to promote renewable energy, which have mushroomed over the past few years.? More than 50 countries have adopted targets for future shares or amounts of renewable energy, including 13 developing countries, EU countries, and many states in the US and Canada.
