How Much Renewable Energy Does the World Use?
Renewable energy has become a hot topic in recent years, as the world seeks to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and transition to a more sustainable energy future. But just how much renewable energy does the world use? In this blog post, we will explore the current state of renewable energy use around the world and examine the trends that are shaping the future of this important industry.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy accounted for 26.2% of global electricity generation in 2018. This represents a significant increase from just a decade ago, when renewables accounted for only 16.7% of global electricity generation. The growth of renewable energy has been driven by a combination of factors, including falling costs, supportive government policies, and increased public awareness of the need to address climate change.
The largest source of renewable energy is hydropower, which accounted for 16.4% of global electricity generation in 2018. This is followed by wind power (5.5%), solar power (2.7%), bioenergy (2.2%), and other renewables (0.4%). While hydropower has been the dominant source of renewable energy for many years, the growth of wind and solar power has been particularly impressive in recent years. In fact, wind and solar power accounted for 84% of new renewable energy capacity additions in 2018.
Despite the impressive growth of renewable energy, there is still a long way to go before the world can fully transition to a sustainable energy future. According to the IEA, renewable energy will need to account for at least 50% of global electricity generation by 2030 in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. This will require significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure, as well as continued innovation in areas such as energy storage and grid integration.
One of the key challenges facing the renewable energy industry is the intermittency of wind and solar power. Unlike fossil fuels, which can be burned continuously to generate electricity, wind and solar power are dependent on weather conditions. This means that energy storage and grid integration will be critical to ensuring that renewable energy can provide a reliable and consistent source of electricity.
In conclusion, while the growth of renewable energy has been impressive in recent years, there is still a long way to go before the world can fully transition to a sustainable energy future. The key to achieving this goal will be continued investment in renewable energy infrastructure, as well as innovation in areas such as energy storage and grid integration. With the right policies and investments, it is possible to create a world powered by clean, renewable energy.
