Hydropower
Wind
Solar
Others
Renewables produce electricity from on-going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind, flowing water, biological processes, and geothermal heat flows. Renewable energy minimizes carbon pollution and has a much lower impact on the environment than fossil fuels - coal, oil, and natural gas.
Renewables in the world
Total renewables' installed capacity reached 2,351 GW at the end of 2018, or around a third of total installed electricity capacity. Hydropower accounts for the largest share with an installed capacity of 1 172 GW, wind and solar - the remainder with capacities of 564 GW and 480 GW respectively. Other renewables include 121 GW of bioenergy, 13 GW of geothermal energy and 500 MW of marine energy (tide, wave and ocean energy).
Combating climate change
The 2015 Paris Agreement sets a goal to limit the increase in global average temperature to below
2°C above pre-industrial levels and to attempt to limit the increase to 1.5°C. To achieve this global
carbon emission would need to fall 45% by 2030. According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), further development of renewable energy coupled with energy efficiency gains, could provide 90% of the CO2 emissions reductions targeted by 2050.
Hydropower
Hydropower
The largest renewable energy source by installed capacity. Today it is among the most cost-effective
means of generating electricity and is often the preferred method where available. In Norway, for
example, 99% of electricity comes from hydropower.
1,292,595 MW
Total installed hydropower capacity globally
Wind energy
Wind energy
Wind energy is produced by transforming the movement of air currents into electrical energy. The
amount of power that can be harvested from wind depends on the size of the turbine and the length
of its blades. Wind-turbine installations’ capacity significantly expanded in the last 35 years. In the
mid-80s an average turbine had 0.05 MW of rated capacity and the blades would be 15 m. Today’s
new wind power projects have turbine capacities of about 2 MW onshore and 3–5 MW offshore. The
biggest ones have rotor diameters of up to 164 m.
563,726 MW
Total installed hydropower capacity globally
Solar energy
Solar energy
Photovoltaic solar energy is obtained by converting sunlight into electricity using a technology based
on the photoelectric effect (the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun is converted into
electrical energy). A photovoltaic cell is used for this purpose. The most used materials for cells are
monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous silicon. However, a technological breakthrough is just
around the corner – En+ Group is developing a new generation of photovoltaic cells based on the
perovskite technology.
485,826 MW
Total installed solar capacity globally
Bioenergy
Bioenergy
Bioenergy envisages the combustion of biomass. Convectional bioenergy refers to the use of wood,
animal waste and traditional charcoal. Modern bioenergy technologies include liquid biofuels
produced from bagasse and other plants; bio-refineries; biogas produced through anaerobic
digestion of residues; wood pellet heating systems; and other technologies.
115,731 MW
Total installed bioenergy capacity globally
Geothermal
Geothermal
Geothermal energy envisage using the heat from within the sub-surface of the earth. Water and/or
steam carry the geothermal energy to the Earth’s surface. Depending on its characteristics,
geothermal energy can be used for heating and cooling purposes or be harnessed to generate clean
electricity. Iceland covers more than 90% of its heating demand with geothermal energy.
13,329 MW
Total installed geothermal capacity globally
