[The Vector] The Renewables Global Status Report Card

REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21^st Century) has released its annual global report card on renewable energy, covering highlights and facts for 2009 and a cumulative overview.  The report comments that renewables are making headway into global energy use, cutting into some fossil fuel use, as illustrated by the graphic to the right.

The big theme of the report was that “the year 2009 was unprecedented in the history of renewable energy, despite the headwinds posed by the global financial crisis, lower oil prices and slow progress with climate policy. Indeed, as other economic sectors declined around the world, existing renewable capacity continued to grow…including grid-connected solar PV (53%), wind power (32%), solar hot water/heating (21%), geothermal power (4%) and hydropower (3%).”

The chart here, courtesy of REN21, illustrates the annual growth rate of renewable energy capacity by category over the last five years, contrasted with growth in 2009 (shown in orange). This powerfully shows that use and implementation is increasing worldwide.

China added 37 GW of renewable capacity, more than any other country in the world, reaching 226 GW of total renewable capacity. Globally, 80 GW of renewable capacity was added including 31 GW of hydro and 48 GW of non-hydro capacity. China produced 40% of the world’s solar PV supply, 30% of the world’s wind turbines and is working to meet its internal energy targets.

Global wind power reached a high of 38 GW, with China the top market adding 13.8 GW (about one-third of the world market). The U.S. was second in adding new wind capacity, with 10 GW added.  Share of wind power generation reach record highs in several countries, including 14% in Spain and 6.5% in Germany.

Germany was the top market in solar, adding 3.8 GW (more than half of the global market). Italy, Japan, Belgium and the U.S. also added respectable amounts of solar. Spain, that had led in 2008, saw a drop when policies changed.

Sweden had biomass account for more energy supply than oil for the first time.

Almost all renewable energy manufacturing industries experienced growth in 2009 despite the economic crisis.  Wind power received more than 60% of utility-scale investment in 2009, mostly thanks to China. Investment totals in utility-scale solar dropped in 2009 but this was offset by record investment in small-scale (rooftop) solar projects.

In 2009, more than 85 countries had some type of renewable energy target, up from 45 countries in 2005. Many targets outline electricity production (typically 5-30%), while other targets may include specifically installed capacity or total amount of energy production from renewables. The most common policy is the feed-in tariff, with at least 50 countries adopting this. Absent from the list – the U.S., who has no energy plan and no national renewable energy targets.

If you would like to read the Executive summary or download the full report, go to the site here.