2015 was a record year for investments in renewables, according to the Renewables Global Status Report.
According to Ren21, the global renewable energy policy
multi-stakeholder network, an estimated 147 gigawatts (GW) of renewable
power capacity was added in 2015, recording the largest annual increase
ever. Moreover, renewable heat capacity increased by around 38
gigawatts-thermal (GWth), and total biofuels production also rose.
“The fact that we had 147GW of capacity, mainly of wind and solar is a
clear indication that these technologies are cost competitive (with
fossil fuels),” said
Christine Lins, who is executive
secretary of REN21, in an interview with BBC. “They are the preference
for many countries and more and more utilities and investors and that is
a very positive signal,” she added.
Investments in renewables, particularly in the power sector, were
driven by several factors, including the improving cost-competiveness of
renewable technologies, better access to financing, energy security and
environmental concerns.
The renewables power sector experienced its largest annual increase
in capacity ever, with significant growth in all regions. Wind and solar
PV had record additions for the second consecutive year, accounting for
about 77% of new installations, and hydropower represented most of the
remainder.
The report
highlights that the world now adds more renewable power capacity
annually than it adds (net) capacity from all fossil fuels combined. By
the end of 2015, renewable capacity in place was enough to supply an
estimated 23.7% of global electricity, with hydropower providing about
16.6%.
Moreover, employment in the renewable energy sector, including
large-scale hydropower, increased in 2015 to an estimated 9.4 million
jobs (direct and indirect). Solar PV and biofuels provided the largest
numbers of renewable energy jobs while 1.3 million jobs were added in
largescale hydropower. According to the report, leading renewable
employers in 2015 were China, Brazil, the United States and India.
“The renewables industry is not just dependant on a couple of markets
but it has turned into a truly global one with markets everywhere and
that is really encouraging,” the Ren21 official stressed.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/record-year-investments-renewables/