by Shane Henson — June 16, 2014—Global renewable energy electricity capacity increased by more than 8% in 2013, achieving a new record level, according a report released earlier this month by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The report, Renewables 2014 Global Status Report, credits support policies with a central role in driving global renewable energy capacity to a new record level last year of more than 1,560 gigawatts (GW). Among the report’s highlights:
- Overall last year, renewables accounted for more than 56% of net additions to global power capacity.
- Hydropower rose by 4% to approximately 1,000 GW in 2013, accounting for about one-third of renewable power capacity added during the year. Other renewables collectively grew nearly 17% to an estimated 560 GW.
- Renewable energy provided 19% of global final energy consumption in 2012, and continued to grow in 2013. Of this total share in 2012, modern renewables accounted for 10% with the remaining percent coming from traditional biomass.
- Useful heat energy from modern renewable sources accounted for an estimated 4.2% of total final energy use. Hydropower made up about 3.8%, and an estimated 2% was provided by power from wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, as well as by biofuels.
- For the first time, more solar photovoltaic than wind power capacity was added worldwide, accounting for about one-third of renewable power capacity added during the year.
Per the report, China, the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Germany remained the top countries for total installed renewable power capacity. Global new investment in renewable power and fuels worldwide was at least $249 billion in 2013, down from its record level in 2011. However, the number of emerging economy nations with policies in place to support the expansion of renewable energy has surged more than six-fold in just eight years, from 15 developing countries in 2005 to 95 early in 2014.
