Renewable energy supplied 16% of global final energy
consumption and almost 20% of electricity production in 2010, according
to REN21.

By Renewable Energy Focus staff

At the same time, global investment in renewable energy increased
more than 20% to US$211 billion and renewable energy capacity now
accounts for about a quarter of global power generating capacity if
including hydropower.

In terms of added capacity, renewable energy accounted for around half of total added power capacity in 2010.

Excluding hydropower, the top five countries for renewable energy capacity were: The US, China, Germany, Spain and India.

Solar and wind

Solar photovoltaics (PV) more than doubled and
Germany installed more solar PV in 2010 than was installed globally in
2009. Solar PV in the US and Japan almost doubled from 2009 levels. Over
100 countries saw solar PV capacity additions.

Wind accounted for most of the electricity capacity, although in Europe, more solar was installed than wind.

Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
and a Member of REN21’s Steering Committee, says: “Wind power continues
to lead the renewable electricity sector, with more new capacity
installed in 2010 than for any other technology.

“Equally important to note is that in 2010 for the first time, more
wind power was added in developing countries and emerging markets than
in the industrialised world.”

GWEC says average wind turbine sizes are continuing to grow and that
direct drive designs have now captured 18% of the global market.

Policy and investment

By the beginning of 2011, 119 countries had some sort of policy
target or renewable energy support policy – more than half of these are
in the developing world.

Investment in renewable energy companies and in utility-scale
generation and biofuel projects reached US$143bn – China alone attracted
a third of this with US$48.5bn.

For small-scale installations, Germany, Italy and the US led the way.

Developing world

“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 word’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.”

Developing countries accounted for over half of global renewable energy power.

Country and regional highlights

The US saw about 10.9% of its domestic primary
energy production coming from renewable energy sources in 2010 – nuclear
accounted for 11.3%. 30 US states now have Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).

China led the installation of wind and solar thermal
power and was the top hydropower producer in 2010. China added around
29 GW of grid-connected renewable energy capacity bringing its total to
252 GW. Renewable energy accounted for about 26% of the country’s total
installed electricity capacity, 18% of generation and over 9% of final
energy supply.

Brazil continued to be the producer of almost all of
the world’s sugar-derived ethanol. The country also added more
hydropower, biomass and wind power plants, as well as solar heating
systems.

In the EU, renewable energy accounted for about 41%
of new installed electricity capacity and exceeded its 2010 targets for
wind, solar PV, CSP, and solar heating and heat pumps.

REN21 has in connection with its annual renewable energy report, also published a Renewables Interactive Map.