77 Renewable Energy Statistics – Infographic [2022 Update]

Even if you’re a climate change denier, the fact that the world needs to move away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy examples shouldn’t be a matter of debate for you.

Conventional energy sources like coal and oil are in limited supply, and over-dependence on them can soon lead to major crises.

Looking at the facts about renewable energy is both eye-opening and inspiring. In fact, it’s impressive to see how far we’ve come in terms of utilizing clean energy, and it’s exciting to think about what the future holds.

Thankfully, there seems to be widespread agreement worldwide on this matter. These statistics are meant to give readers a broad understanding of global renewable energy trends while also answering some common questions.

What Are Renewable Resources?

Renewable resources are those that can be replenished or replaced over time, according to the renewable energy source definition.

This includes renewable energy forms like solar and wind energy that can be harnessed indefinitely and water and forests that can regrow if appropriately managed.

On the other hand, non-renewable energy resources, such as fossil fuels, exist in finite quantities and will eventually be depleted, as non-renewable energy facts reveal.

In general, the main difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy and the primary advantage of renewable resources is that they’re sustainable—they can continue to be used without damaging the environment.

This is in contrast to non-renewable resources that often have harmful environmental impacts (e.g., fracking for natural gas). In addition, renewable resources tend to be less expensive than non-renewables once the infrastructure is in place.

For these reasons, it’s important to develop and use renewable resources whenever possible.

Facts on Renewable Energy From 2020 Onwards

1. Hydropower accounts for 71% of all renewable electricity in the world.

(TRVST, Hydro Review)

So, nearly three-quarters of the total renewable electricity generated today depends on our water resources. Namely, the entire hydroelectric energy generation in the world in 2020 equaled 1,211 GW.

2. Demand for renewable energy grew in 2020 when all other energy sources declined.

(IEA)

Despite the decline in global energy demand by 3.8% in the first quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus, renewables had a demand growth.

This is indeed one of the best renewable energy facts from 2020 since it was the first time in 50 years that renewables took over coal as a leading power source.

3. 6 of the world’s top 10 solar energy companies are based in China.

(ElectronicsAndYou)

More specifically, those companies are Trina Solar, Jinko Solar, JA Solar, Yingli Green, SFCE, and ReneSola. Along with driving global investments in renewable energy infrastructure, China is also among the leading countries in renewable energy manufacturing.

4. In 2021, 837 gigawatts of cumulative wind power capacity were installed worldwide.

(Statista)

According to global renewable energy statistics, 780 gigawatts were onshore wind power. Interestingly, more and more nations worldwide are moving away from fossil fuels, resulting in the significant growth of green energy wind power over the past decade.

5. In 2021, renewable capacity grew by 9.1%.

(Renewables Now, IRENA)

In comparison, the renewable energy industry had a strong year in 2020, with capacity growing by 10.3%. However, this growth rate slowed slightly in 2021.

Despite this slowdown, renewables are still expanding at a healthy pace. As a result, they are poised to play an increasingly important role in the global energy mix, according to facts about renewable energy.

6. World biofuel production decreased by 11.6% in 2020.

(Biodiesel Magazine)

Before the pandemic, the International Energy Agency predicted that global biofuel production would grow by 3% in 2020.

However, in its latest report, the agency confirmed a drastic fall of almost 11.6%. As a result, the annual production of biofuel worldwide has plummeted for the first time in two decades.

7. Net electricity capacity expansion from renewables in 2021 reached 81%.

(IRENA)

Further data show that wind and solar accounted for 88% of new renewables. The renewable energy data is in, and the results are clear—it is on the rise, renewable resources facts confirm. This is good news for the environment and the fight against climate change.

8. In 2021, China generated a total of 2.48 trillion kWh of electricity from renewable energy sources.

(English.gov)

This accounted for 29.8% of the country’s total electricity consumption. So, China is the world’s largest producer of renewable energy, and its commitment to increasing its use of renewables is helping drive down costs and increase adoption worldwide.

9. 9% of variable renewables were generated in the first quarter of 2020.

(IEA)

Solar PV and wind power are different forms of variable renewables, alternative energy facts imply.

This figure represents a 1% growth from 2019. However, the implementation of lockdown measures caused the demand for electricity to fall while solar PV and wind levels remained the same.

10. 15.6 gigawatts of geothermal energy were produced worldwide in 2021.

(Statista)

Just like wind and solar, geothermal power has incredible potential as an alternate power source. As of 2021, the global geothermal power industry has been led by the US, Indonesia, and the Philippines in terms of power capacity installed.

These three countries have a massive amount of undeveloped geothermal potential and are also home to some of the largest plants in the world.

11. Renewable energy job creation statistics note that 12 million jobs were created worldwide in the renewable energy sector in 2020.

(Reuters)

The renewable energy sector continues to grow, promising to provide the world with cleaner and cost-effective energy sources. But aside from that, there are also greater socio-economic advantages of renewable energy through employment.

12. Solar power contributed 50% of all new electric capacity added to the grid in Q1 of 2022.

(SEIA)

This is a significant increase from the 46% contribution in 2021 and the 43% contribution in 2020. Moreover, the SEIA attributes this growth to the continued decline in solar costs and the increasing interest in clean, renewable energy among utilities and corporate buyers.

13. Facts about renewable energy show that Asia had a 60% share of new renewable capacity installation in 2021.

(IRENA)

The region increased its renewable capacity by 154.7 GW and now hit 1.46 TW. This accounted for 48% of the world’s total. The increase in Asia’s renewable capacity is due to the region’s strong commitment to clean energy.

14. The US is the world’s top biofuel producer, with 1,141.75 thousand barrels per day in 2019.

(Knoema)

This is due to the country’s large agricultural sector and abundant natural resources. Other countries in the top 5 were Brazil, Indonesia, China, and Germany. In addition, biofuel production has increased in recent years due to the increasing popularity of renewable energy.

15. China vs. US renewable energy statistics note that China added 136 GW of renewables in 2020 while the US added 29 GW.

(IRENA)

Regarding renewable energy by country, China and the US were the giant expansion markets in 2020. Topping the list was China, where wind-generated most of it, accounting for 72 GW, while 49 GW came from solar. Its runner-up, the US, had 15 GW of solar and around 14 GW of wind energy.

16. CO2 emissions related to global energy plummeted by 5.8% in 2020.

(IEA)

This decline is the largest annual decrease rate since World War II, non-renewable energy facts show. Indeed, a good thing COVID-19 did was reduce the amount of carbon emitted from energy generation.

17. The US’s primary energy consumption increased by 4% in 2021.

(EIA)

This is the largest annual increase on record and is primarily attributable to a gradual return to pre-pandemic activity levels. In fact, the increase in 2021 followed a 7% decrease in 2020, which was the largest annual decrease on record.

18. Renewables are expected to provide almost 30% of the global electricity demand by 2023.

(MAN)

More specifically, this increase is driven by falling costs and government policies supporting renewable energy growth.

Renewable energy vs. fossil fuels statistics point out that in many parts of the world, renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels, and this trend is only expected to continue.

As more countries move away from coal and other polluting energy sources, renewables are expected to play an increasingly important role in meeting the world’s electricity needs.

19. 47% of the UK’s electricity was powered by wind and solar in Q1 2020.

(The Guardian)

The UK’s use of renewable energy has made a new record after its wind and solar power generated almost half of the electricity in the first quarter of 2020. Furthermore, this surpassed the previous quarter’s record (39%) set in 2019.

20. Facts on renewable energy uncover that the global renewable energy market reached $881.7 billion in 2020.

(Allied Market Research)

The increase in the use of renewable energy has already positively impacted the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping slow climate change effects.

So, with continued investment and commitment, the global renewable energy market has the potential to transform the way we power our world.

21. 67% of Denmark’s electricity comes from sources of sustainable energy.

(Trade)

Denmark has been investing in renewable energy for over three decades, and this commitment has paid off in the form of a clean and sustainable energy system. For instance, wind energy contributes 46.8% to the energy supply, and biomass contributes 11.2%.

The United States Renewable Energy Statistics

22. A 1% growth in total consumption of renewable energy broke a more than a century-old record.

(IEA)

For the first time in over 130 years, the total renewable energy consumption in the US surpassed coal. In fact, in 2019, the total coal consumption in the country fell for the sixth consecutive year and to its lowest level.

In the same year, total renewable energy consumption grew for the fourth straight year, reaching a record-high 11.5 quadrillion Btu.

23. About 20% of the total electricity generation in the US came from renewables in 2021.

(IEA)

In addition, facts about renewable resources affirm that sources of renewable energy accounted for about 12.2% of total US energy consumption in 2021.

The United States has made significant progress in recent years in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and increasing its use of renewable energy sources.

24. Washington State gets 76.6% of its electricity from hydroelectric power.

(Choose Energy)

In comparison, Idaho gets 62.9% of its electricity from hydroelectric power. According to US renewable energy statistics, other top states using hydroelectric generation for electricity are Oregon, Vermont, and Montana.

Water is constantly recycled through the hydrologic cycle—a never-ending energy source.

In addition, hydroelectric power does not produce any air pollution or greenhouse gasses. Building and operating a hydroelectric renewable power plant is also relatively inexpensive.

For these reasons, hydroelectric power is a major source of electricity in many states, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.

25. Georgia produced about 10% of the nation’s total electricity generation in 2020—facts about renewable energy show.

(IEA)

Since 2010, Georgia’s electricity generation from biomass has grown by over 80%. Moreover, 16 different facilities produced about 400 megawatts of capacity.

In 2020, Georgia’s contribution to total electricity generation from biomass reached 10%, most of which came from wood and wood-derived fuels.

26. 73.2% of Iowa’s electricity generation came from wind power in 2021.

(Choose Energy)

Some interesting facts about renewable energy confirm that Iowa has the largest share of the 13 states, with over 20% of electricity generation from wind power.

Iowa’s wind turbines also help create jobs and spur economic development. With continued renewable energy growth in the US, Iowa is poised to maintain its position as a national leader in wind power.

27. In 2021, California had the highest solar energy percentage of generated electricity at 40.5%.

(Choose Energy)

Solar energy statistics show that California installed 23 GW of solar capacity in 2019.

Nevada came in second at 33%, and Vermont third at 31%. Generally speaking, solar power is a clean and renewable energy source that is becoming increasingly affordable as technology advances.

Hydroelectric Renewable Energy Facts

28. China continues to be the world’s leader in hydropower generation, with more than 390 GW of total installed capacity.

(IHA)

This was followed by Brazil (109 GW), the United States of America (102 GW), and Canada (82 GW). India, Russia, and Japan also had a significant hydropower presence, each with 50 GW or more OF installed capacity.

China’s large lead in installed hydropower capacity is likely due to its abundance of waterways and large population, both of which create a great demand for energy.

29. By 2027, the global hydropower generation market will be valued at $317.8 billion, as per renewable energy facts.

(Open PR)

The hydropower generation market is expected to grow significantly in the next few years.

This growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing availability of freshwater resources, the need for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, and the declining hydropower renewable energy technology cost.

30. Denmark has the highest electricity prices in Europe—€0.344 per kWh.

(Eurostat)

Regarding electricity prices, Denmark is at the top of the list in Europe. It is followed by Germany, where the cost is €0.323 per kWh, Belgium with €0.299 per kWh, and Ireland with €0.297 per kWh.

If you are interested in electricity prices by state, we have a separate article on that.

Solar Renewable Energy Stats

31. The largest solar power generating capacity in 2020 came from China—more than 48 GW of PV capacity installed.

(Investopedia)

China has managed to increase its total solar capacity to 253,6 GW. This growth is partly due to the Chinese government’s commitment to renewable energy that has recently implemented many policies and subsidies designed to encourage solar development.

32. Solar energy led capacity expansion with 19% (133 GW) in 2021.

(IRENA)

Solar and wind energy were the top two renewable resources for capacity expansion in 2021. Furthermore, these forms of renewable energy are expected to continue to dominate renewable capacity expansion in the future.

Together, they account for 88% of all net renewable additions in 2021.

33. Renewable energy statistics find that an additional solar PV capacity of 580 GW is expected to come on board by 2023.

(Inverse)

This represents 4% of the world’s energy needs. More specifically, the largest increase is expected from China, followed by other countries in the APAC region.

The relatively lower intensity of sunlight in Europe and North America is partly responsible for the less substantial increase in solar PV power generation in these regions.

34. In 2019, concentrated solar power (CSP) had a global installed capacity of 6,451 MW.

(HELIOSCSP)

The main reason for this growth is new solar thermal projects built up worldwide. In fact, 381.6 MW of solar thermal projects were newly built worldwide in 2019.

Renewable energy stats show that these new projects have helped increase the market’s overall capacity by 6.29%.

35. CSP capacity will grow by 87% between 2018 and 2023.

(MDPI)

The deployment of CSP plants is at the market introduction and expansion stage. The numbers above represent an increase of 4.3 gigawatts. Moreover, it’s a 32% increase compared to the previous five-year period of 2012–2017.

36. The global solar thermal market is projected to reach 767.73 GW by 2026.

(Fortune Business Insights)

Then again, it stood at 496.15 GW in 2018. All in all, the increasing adoption of solar thermal technology in power generation, heating, cooling, and desalination is the primary factor driving the market’s growth.

Stats on Renewable Energy—Wind Energy

37. China is the world leader in wind energy, with a total installed capacity of 342 GW by 2021.

(Power Technology)

This puts China ahead of any other country, with over one-quarter of the world’s wind power capacity coming from the country. Moreover, China’s largest onshore wind farm is located in Gansu Province, built out of the Gobi Desert.

The project has a peak capacity of 10GW, which is a long way ahead of its closest rival. However, several other large projects in the pipeline could soon rival it.

38. Europe is expected to install 116 GW of new wind farms between 2022 and 2026, as per renewable resources facts.

(Wind Europe)

Around 81% of these new capacity additions will be onshore wind. The report notes that this growth will be driven by continued ambition from European countries to meet their climate goals and the falling cost of wind energy.

39. Wind power generation met 100% of the demand in Denmark in 2019.

(Renewables Now)

Moreover, the strong winds enhanced production from wind turbines and helped supply 130% of the country’s electricity demand with this form of renewable energy. This broke an earlier record in June of the same year when it reached up to 60% of the country’s needs.

40. Global wind power capacity grew to about 115 GW in 2020, according to global renewable energy statistics.

(SP Global)

As more countries commit to decarbonizing their energy systems, the installed capacity of wind power will likely continue to grow rapidly.

41. Onshore wind power generation capacity is expected to reach 839 GW by 2023.

(ECOHZ)

The increasing popularity of onshore wind power is due to its many benefits. It is a renewable resource that emits no greenhouse gasses and has a relatively low environmental impact.

In addition, onshore wind power is becoming increasingly cost-competitive with other forms of energy generation.

42. Wind energy generation requires wind to blow at 9 miles per hour, alternative energy facts propose.

(EIA)

Operating a wind power plant requires careful planning and consideration of the wind conditions at the site. Wind turbines must be positioned in an area where the wind is strong and reliable.

The wind speed and frequency are also critical, affecting how much power the turbines can generate.

43. The tallest turbines today can reach more than 650 ft.

(Visual Capitalist)

Wind turbines have come a long way since the early days of wind energy development. Today, they are more efficient and powerful than ever before. However, these larger turbines come with a hefty price tag, costing over $12 million to manufacture and install.

Geothermal Renewable Energy Facts

44. The US has the world’s largest geothermal power generation capacity at 3,714 GW.

(Think GeoEnergy)

The geological conditions required for geothermal power mean that development has been concentrated in a relatively small number of countries. After the US, the countries with the largest capacities are Indonesia (2.1 GW), the Philippines (1.9 GW), and Turkey (1.7 GW).

45. The worldwide geothermal power generation capacity grew to 15,854 MW in 2021.

(Think GeoEnergy)

This growth is due to several factors, including an increased awareness of the potential of geothermal energy and advances in technology.

Interesting facts about renewable energy suggest one of the key benefits of geothermal energy is it is a renewable resource that can be used to generate electricity with minimal environmental impact.

In addition, geothermal renewable energy power plants have a relatively small footprint and can be located near population centers, making them a more viable option for many communities.

46. The geothermal power generation capacity will grow to 17 GW by 2023.

(Hazardex)

Renewable energy statistics by country show that the biggest clean energy capacity additions are expected to come from Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, and Turkey.

These countries have significant geothermal resources and are investing substantially in this clean energy technology. So, they are well positioned to meet the growing global demand for geothermal power.

47. Indonesia aims to install 8 GW of geothermal energy capacity by 2030.

(IEA)

Moreover, plans for exploration and drilling in 20 geothermal areas are scheduled by 2024. This would make the country’s installed capacity equal to that of the US by 2025.

Interesting Facts About Renewable Energy

48. In 2019, about 70% of renewable energy used worldwide was bioenergy.

(Wiley Online Library)

Data shows that most of this occurs in developing countries and relates to the traditional use of biomass for cooking and heating.

Open fires and simple cooking stoves can negatively affect health (indoor smoke inhalation) and the environment. Not to mention that it’s dangerous to operate around open fires, as numerous fire safety statistics show.

49. Stats on renewable energy indicate that renewable energy sources powered 38% of the EU’s electricity in 2020.

(My Modern Met)

This indicates a significant milestone in the electricity sector in Europe. Meanwhile, demand for coal drastically fell by 20% in 2020. Coal is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, so shifting away from coal-fired power plants is essential for mitigating climate change.

50. 77% of surveyed Americans consider developing alternative energy sources more important than producing more fossil fuels.

(Pew Research)

This is one of the renewable energy vs. fossil fuels statistics from a recent Pew Research Center’s renewable energy study.

So, with the current state of the environment, it’s no surprise that more and more Americans are advocating for the development of alternative sources of power over the production of fossil fuels.

51. Ocean energy production has increased 10 times from 2009 to 2019.

(ESI Africa)

In other words, it surged from less than 5 GWh in 2009 to 45 GWh in 2019. Wave energy is cleaner and more sustainable than traditional fossil fuels, making it an attractive option for power companies and consumers alike.

Facts About Renewable Energy—Economy

52. Solar is the cheapest electricity in history; 20–50% cheaper than the IEA expected.

(Carbon Brief)

With the cost of solar falling so rapidly, it is now a viable option for countries worldwide to switch to renewable energy and meet their climate goals.

The IEA’s findings are a significant boost for the solar industry and will help drive further investment in this clean and abundant energy source.

53. Between 2010 and 2020, the cost of electricity from utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) fell by 85%.

(IRENA)

Furthermore, facts about renewable energy show that this was followed by a 68% drop in the cost of electricity from concentrating solar power (CSP), a 56% reduction for onshore wind, and a 48% decrease for offshore wind.

The dramatic fall in costs is due to a range of factors, including improvements in technology, increased economies of scale, and the introduction of more efficient financial models.

54. An aggressive push towards 100% renewable energy would save Americans $321 billion in energy costs.

(The Guardian)

In other words, it would save up to $2,500 per household annually, as renewable energy facts suggest. Moreover, according to the same report, this aggressive push toward 100% renewable energy will not only lead to energy cost savings but also slash planet-heating emissions.

55. The best-value wind energy stock is Iberdrola SA, with a market cap of $66.7 billion.

(Investopedia)

The Spain-based multinational electric utility company engages in the generation, distribution, and trading of electricity. Additionally, it specializes in clean energy, including onshore and offshore wind and solar energy.

Renewable Energy Statistics by Country

56. China accounts for 31% of global energy consumption.

(Enerdata)

China’s energy consumption grew by 5.5% in 2021. While China’s rising energy consumption challenges climate change mitigation efforts, it also presents an opportunity for the country to lead the way in developing clean electric energy technologies.

57. China installed 11.52 GW of solar capacity in the first half of 2020.

(Mercom India)

Regarding the growth of solar power installation in China, there was a slight increment in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Facts about renewable energy find that the country installed 11.4 GW of solar power during that year. The relatively flat movement in power generation capacity is still due to the coronavirus pandemic.

58. US energy production dropped by 5% in 2020.

(World Energy)

According to available data, there was a similar downward trend in energy production, just like its consumption that year. Undoubtedly, this will significantly impact US renewable energy job creation statistics.

59. The US electric power sector is halfway to zero carbon emission.

(Renewable Energy World)

In a recent report, the Renewable Energy World disclosed that the power sector emissions in the country reached half of what was projected.

Namely, the annual carbon emissions fell to 1,450 million metric tons over the last 15 years. This was 52% below the projected level.

60. Wind and solar power generated one-fifth of the EU’s total power generation in 2020.

(Ember)

The rise in renewable energy percentage in the EU was powered by both wind and solar power, jointly contributing a fifth of electricity generation. Specifically, wind generation grew by 9%, while solar rose by 15%.

61. Non-renewable energy facts reveal that about 70% of France’s electricity comes from nuclear energy.

(World Nuclear Association)

While the US consumes the highest amount of nuclear energy in absolute terms among the major producers, nuclear power has the highest share in overall energy consumption in France.

The use of nuclear energy has led to some controversy in France, as it does elsewhere. Opponents argue that it is unsafe and environmentally damaging, while supporters argue it is a clean and efficient energy source.

62. Germany’s renewable energy consumption reached nearly 46% in 2020, renewable energy facts show.

(Foreign Policy)

As for Germany, the country’s energy consumption from renewables almost equaled the combined energy consumption from coal, oil, gas, and nuclear power. As a result, its greenhouse emission also made a record that year, dropping nearly 80 million tons of carbon dioxide.

63. The EU’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption dropped by 10% in 2020.

(Eurostat)

More specifically, the largest declines in CO2 emissions from energy use were in Greece and Estonia and the lowest in Malta and Hungary.

64. Power generation from renewables rose by 9.46% in India in Q1 2020, according to facts on renewable energy.

(Economic Times)

Before lockdown, India’s renewable power generators contributed nearly 10% more energy, from 9.433 billion units in January 2019 to 10.325 units in the same month in 2020.

The increase in renewable power generation can be attributed to the country’s growing focus on sustainability and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

65. The UAE plans to spend $160 billion on renewables by 2030.

(World Economic Forum)

The Middle East continues to depend on hydrocarbon generation for most of its energy needs. But it has started considering decarbonizing its energy production.

For instance, the UAE plans to channel its rich oil reserves into an alternative form of energy and generate two-thirds of electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050, alternative energy facts confirm.

66. The Middle East renewable energy market is expected to grow to 59,656 MW by 2027.

(Mordor Intelligence)

The Middle East’s renewable energy market has been growing in recent years. In 2020, the region had an installed capacity of 24,073 MW of renewable energy, which is expected to double by 2027.

This represents a compound annual renewable energy growth rate of 13.43% during the forecast period of 2022–2027. The primary driver of this growth is the increasing availability of financing for renewable energy projects.

67. Based on electricity data, the consumption of this renewable power source decreased by 3.1% in the Middle East in 2020.

(BP)

Renewable energy statistics point out this was below its 10-year average. For example, the drop was most significant in Qatar, with 11.3%, followed by Kuwait, with 3%. Iran didn’t feel the crisis—it had just a 0.2% drop.

68. Renewable energy sources supply only one-third of Africa’s energy demand.

(CNBC Africa)

Moreover, wind and solar generated 6% of South Africa’s electricity in 2020. This represented three times more than what the country generated in 2015. Yet, this figure is still below the 9.4% world average, renewable energy stats find.

69. CO₂ emissions in India fell by 15.4% in the first half of 2020.

(Weather)

This was the steepest fall in Y-o-Y carbon emissions among major economies in the world.

While we will yet see the exact long-term impact of the pandemic on carbon emissions, this initial reduction is a welcome sign that economies can make significant progress in reducing their carbon footprint.

70. Russia’s primary electric consumption in 2021 amounted to 31.3 exajoules.

(Statista)

Russia is the world’s fourth largest consumer of primary energy, behind China, the United States, and India. For instance, Russia’s primary energy consumption was 31.3 exajoules in 2021, up from 28.9 exajoules in the previous year.

71. Renewable resources facts show that renewable energy consumption in the Russian Federation accounts for only 3.22% of the total energy consumption.

(WorldBank)

Even though Russia is rich in natural resources, it doesn’t use them. One reason is that traditional forms of energy, such as oil and gas, are still very cheap in Russia. As a result, there has been little financial incentive to switch to renewables.

72. The share of renewables in transport will grow to 3.8% by 2023.

(IEA)

The contribution of renewables in transport was very low in 2017—3.4%, and this share will grow minimally by 2023. Meanwhile, renewables are expected to expand by almost one-fifth over the forecast period.

Other Facts About Renewable Resources

73. 169 countries in the world have renewable energy targets.

(Vox)

Many countries have taken vital legislative steps to encourage the use of renewable energy. For example, there’s the Renewable Portfolio Standard—the current US renewable energy policy.

The countries are evenly spread across all regions, showing that the role of renewable energy in reducing carbon emissions among all energy sources has been widely recognized, according to facts about renewable energy.

74. Coal share in global power generation went down by 4% in 2020.

(Ember)

In 2020, coal production made a record of -346 TWh thanks to the move toward alternative fuels.

However, coal remains the largest power source globally, generating 34% (8736 TWh) of global electricity in 2020. This decade, the worldwide campaign toward net zero by 2050 would require a 14% cut in annual coal energy production.

75. In China, nearly 60% of the increase in electricity came from new energy sources in the first four months of 2022.

(CGTN)

China is the world leader in installed power generation capacity. Stats on renewable energy note that by the end of April, the country’s installed capacity of non-fossil energy had reached 1.15 billion kilowatts, up by 14.5% Y-o-Y.

The growth in wind and solar power was even more impressive, with a 20.5% year-on-year increase—12.6 percentage points higher than the total installed capacity.

76. Global carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 7% in 2020.

(Institute for Energy Research)

This figure is the largest final cut in annual emissions ever recorded. Further data shows that emissions have considerably decreased among the largest emitters, such as the US, EU, and India.

77. Global renewable energy statistics suggest that 100% renewable energy could power the world by 2030.

(Global100REStrategyGroup)

It would require building many more wind turbines and solar power systems while not utilizing bioenergy. Other changes involve the use of electric cars and the development of enhanced transmission grids and storage.

To date, 11 countries have reached or exceeded 100% renewable electricity, 12 countries have passed laws to reach it by 2030, and 49 countries plan to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2050.

Facts About Renewable Energy: Key Takeaways

There are significant regional variations in renewable energy capacity and consumption. Still, the countries relying heavily on alternative energy also see the associated benefits.

The key drivers behind the sector growth include policy decisions, reduced costs of solar and wind energy, and widespread acceptance among consumers regarding the importance of switching to clean power sources.

The share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation is growing at a brisk pace globally. However, the share growth of renewables in other areas of energy use is much slower and a cause for concern.

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