Global renewables race opens up
JOHN CONROY 10 JUN, 1:48 PM

A new global report has found developing countries are now contributing significantly to renewable energy sector growth, with the amount of countries with renewables-supportive policies up sixfold, from just 15 to now 95, since 2005.

The report also found six more countries added renewable energy targets in 2013, bringing the total to 144, while China accounted for almost a third of new renewables capacity, adding for the first time more renewables last year than its additions in either fossil fuels or nuclear (72 per cent of Europe's new energy capacity was sourced from renewables, the sixth time renewables additions have exceeded fossil fuels).

Overall, 56 per cent of power sector capacity additions were from renewables.

The REN21’s Renewables 2014 Global Status Report, released last week, painted a picture of an expanding renewables sector worldwide, supporting 6.5 million direct and indirect jobs and providing 19 per cent of the world's energy (with biomass contributing just under half over that portion, but with its share in decline).




“Markets, manufacturing, and investment expanded further across the developing world...