Renewable energy capacity in 2021 grew to 3064 gigawatt, increasing supply by 9.1 per cent, showing continued growth and gaining momentum despite global uncertainties.
Although hydropower accounted for the largest share of the global total renewable generation capacity with 1 230 GW, fresh data from the World Energy Transition Outlook by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that solar and wind continued to dominate new generating capacity.
Together, both technologies contributed 88 per cent to the share of all new renewable capacity in 2021. Solar capacity led with 19 per cent increase, followed by wind energy, which increased its generating capacity by 13 per cent.
Details show that 60 per cent of the new capacity in 2021 was added in Asia, resulting in a total of 1.46 Terawatt (TW) of renewable capacity by 2021.
China was the biggest contributor, adding 121 GW to the continent’s new capacity while Europe and North America—led by the USA—took second and third places respectively, with the former adding 39 GW, and the latter 38 GW.
Renewable energy capacity grew by 3.9 per cent in Africa and 3.3 per cent in Central America and the Caribbean. The pace in both regions is much slower than the global average, despite representing steady growth, indicating the need for stronger international cooperation to optimise electricity markets and drive massive investments in those regions.
“This continued progress is another testament of renewable energy’s resilience. Its strong performance last year represents more opportunities for countries to reap renewables’ multiple socio-economic benefits. However, despite the encouraging global trend, our new World Energy Transitions Outlook shows that the energy transition is far from being fast or widespread enough to avert the dire consequences of climate change,” says IRENA Director-General, Francesco La Camera.
“Our current energy crisis also adds to the evidence that the world can no longer rely on fossil fuels to meet its energy demand. Money directed to fossil fuel power plants yields unrewarding results, both for the survival of a nation and the planet. Renewable power should become the norm across the globe. We must mobilise the political will to accelerate the 1.5°C pathway.”
He urges renewables to grow at a faster pace than energy demand to achieve climate goals, although many countries have yet to reach this point despite significantly increasing the use of renewables for electricity generation.
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