New Energy Was 81% Of Global New Power Build In 2021

Renewables Take Lion’s Share of Global Power Additions in 2021; Renewable energy continued to expand steadily and well above the long-term trend, with share in total capacity expansion reaching new record of 81% last year

11 April 2022 (International Renewable Energy Agency)

“…[By the end of 2021, global renewable generation capacity amounted to 3 064 Gigawatt (GW), increasing the stock of renewable power by 9.1 per cent…[H]ydropower accounted for the largest share of the global total renewable generation capacity with 1 230 GW…[but] solar and wind continued to dominate new generating capacity…[with] 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…

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To achieve climate goals, renewables must grow at a faster pace than energy demand. However, many countries have not reached this point yet, despite significantly increasing the use of renewables for electricity generation…Sixty per cent of the new capacity in 2021 was added in Asia…China was the biggest contributor, adding 121 GW to the continent’s new capacity. Europe and North America—led by the USA—took second and third places…Renewable energy capacity grew by 3.9 per cent in Africa and 3.3 per cent in Central America and the Caribbean…

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…[T]he pace in both regions is much slower than the global average, indicating the need for stronger international cooperation to optimise electricity markets and drive massive investments…Growth in hydro increased steadily in 2021…Wind expansion continued…[but global] solar capacity has now outgrown wind energy capacity…[Net bioenergy] capacity expansion increased in 2021…Geothermal capacity had an exceptional growth in 2021…[and off-grid capacity] grew by 466 MW…” click here for more

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