Renewables 2011 Global Status Report

The Renewables 2011 global status report, commissioned by REN21, shows that the renewable energy sector continues to perform well despite continuing economic recession, incentive cuts, and low natural-gas prices.

Highlights from the report

• 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.
• 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.

Click here to read the full report

Photo from Creative Commons: Flickr: Abi Skipp

Comments

[solar energy mornington peninsula]

In my opinion, i have always believed that the use of renewable energy is a good investment. It does not only help an individual in reducing his/her bill but as well as save the environment. It is quite inevitable that the impact of global warming is worst. and the only way to lessen it is by saving the environment. thanks for the great info!