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Ren21 gsr2022 Key Messages
Ren21 gsr2022 Key Messages
IN PERSPECTIVE
2022
Drawn from the
RENEWABLES
2022 GLOBAL
STATUS REPORT
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
REN2 1 MEMBERS
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NGOS
Africa Minigrids Developers Association ORGANISATIONS Association Africaine pour
(AMDA) Asia Pacific Energy Research Center l’Electrification Rurale (Club-ER)
Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) (APERC) CDP
American Council on Renewable Energy Asian Development Bank (ADB) CLASP
(ACORE)
ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA)
Associação Lusófona de Energias and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) Climate Action Network International
Renováveis (ALER)
Electric Power Council of the (CAN-I)
Associação Portuguesa de Energias
Commonwealth of Independent Coalition de Ciudades Capitales de las
Renováveis (APREN)
States (EPC) Americas (CC35)
Chinese Renewable Energy Industries
Association (CREIA) European Commission (EC) Energy Cities
Clean Energy Council (CEC) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Fundación Energías Renovables (FER)
Euroheat & Power (EHP) International Energy Agency (IEA) Global 100% Renewable Energy
European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) International Renewable Energy Platform (Global 100%RE)
European Renewable Energies Agency (IRENA) Global Forum on Sustainable Energy
Federation (EREF) Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) (GFSE)
Global Off-Grid Lighting Association Organización Latinoamericana de Global Women's Network for the
(GOGLA) Energía (OLADE) Energy Transition (GWNET)
Global Solar Council (GSC) Greenpeace International
Regional Center for Renewable Energy
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) ICLEI – Local Governments for
Indian Renewable Energy Federation (IREF) Sustainability
United Nations Development
International Geothermal Association (IGA) Programme (UNDP) Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies
International Hydropower Association (IHA) (ISEP)
United Nations Environment
RE100 / Climate Group Programme (UNEP) International Electrotechnical
RES4Africa Foundation Commission (IEC)
United Nations Industrial
SolarPower Europe (SPE) Development Organization (UNIDO) Jeune Volontaires pour l’Environnement
Union International de Transport (JVE)
World Bank (WB)
Publique (UITP) Mali Folkecenter (MFC)
World Bioenergy Association (WBA) Power for All
World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
Renewable Energy Institute (REI)
SCIENCE AND ACADEMIA GOVERNMENTS Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI)
AEE – Institute for Sustainable Afghanistan SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable,
Technologies (AEE-INTEC) Austria Low Carbon Transport
Council on Energy, Environment and Brazil Solar Cookers International (SCI)
Water (CEEW) Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)
Denmark
Fundación Bariloche (FB) World Council for Renewable Energy
Dominican Republic
International Institute for Applied (WCRE)
Germany
Systems Analysis (IIASA) World Future Council (WFC)
International Solar Energy Society (ISES) India
Republic of Korea World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) Mexico
National Research University Higher Norway
School of Economics Russia (HSE) South Africa MEMBERS AT LARGE
South African National Energy South Australia Michael Eckhart
Development Institute (SANEDI) Spain David Hales
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) United Arab Emirates
University of Technology Sydney – Kirsty Hamilton
United States of America
Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF) Peter Rae
World Resources Institute (WRI) Arthouros Zervos
2
RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY NETWORK
FOR THE 21st CENTURY
REN21 is the only global community of actors from science, governments, NGOs and industry
working collectively to drive the rapid uptake of renewables – now!
REN21 works to build knowledge, shape dialogue and debate and communicate these results
to inform decision-makers to strategically drive the deep transformations needed to make
renewables the norm. We do this in close cooperation with the community, providing a platform
for these stakeholders toengage
and collaborate. REN21 also connects with non-energy players
to grow the energy discourse, given the economic and social significance of energy.
Our more than 3,000 community members guide our co-operative work. They reflect the
vast array of backgrounds and perspectives in society. As REN21’s eyes and ears, they collect
information, share intelligence and make the renewable voice heard.
REN21 takes all this information to better understand the current thinking around renewables
and change norms. Our publications are probably the world’s most comprehensive crowd-
sourced reports on renewables. Each is a truly collaborative process of co-authoring, data
collection and peer reviewing.
3
RENEWABLE ENERGY
DATA IN PERSPECTIVE
2021 was
supposed to be Rising energy
different – a new, consumption
and a hike in fossil fuel
greener beginning use outpaced growth
in renewables in 2021.
5
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
The year 2021 marked the end of In response to high energy prices,
cheap fossil fuels as we knew them. many countries responded with
Starting in September, prices of coal, oil short-term strategies to diversify
and natural gas soared to their highest fossil fuel imports, ramp up production
We are facing recorded levels, even surpassing those and subsidise energy use to shield
the biggest global of the 1973 oil crisis. This was caused
by resurgence of energy demand
consumers. China announced plans to
increase coal production by 300 million
energy crisis after COVID-19 lockdowns and supply tonnes (equivalent to 7% of current
crunch. By the end of the year, gas prices levels), the United States witnessed
in history reached around ten times the 2020 a boom in new fracking and drilling
levels in Europe and Asia and tripled in projects, and the European Union (EU)
the US, leading to a spike in wholesale initiated a series of short-term measures.
electricity prices in major markets by Most of these have benefited the fossil
the end of 2021. Meanwhile, supply fuel industry, leading to rapidly rising
chain disruptions related to the impacts profits and dangerously locking the
of COVID-19 continued, slowing the world into a path of even faster global
development of many renewable energy warming. This counters the dire calls by
projects worldwide. climate scientists to not only shelve new
The biggest energy crisis in modern fossil fuel projects but also close existing
history began in the second half extraction sites as part of the push to
of 2021 and was exacerbated by the keep global temperature rise below
Russian Federation invasion of Ukraine, 1.5 degrees Celsius.
contributing to an unprecedented
worldwide commodity shock. With
national budgets already depleted by the
pandemic, the energy crisis has caused
severe economic damage and weighed
heavily on growth globally, rattling more
than 136 countries that rely on fossil fuel Invasion of Ukraine
imports – with the poorest nations hit exacerbated a
particularly hard. global energy
crisis, creating
windfall profits for fossil
fuel companies.
6
RENEWABLE ENERGY
GLOBAL OVERVIEW
Global
12.6 %
of total final energy
6 % increase
in CO2 emissions
CO2 consumption (2020)
135 countries
in 2021
19 %
between 2009
was invested in
renewables in 2021
USD 5.9 trillion
in 2020
and 2019
At the 2021 UN climate
summit, countries
equivalent to agreed to a
USD 11 million
1min
phase-down of
per minute unabated coal power
200
80.1 % 79.6 % 78.5 %
Fossil fuels Fossil fuels Fossil fuels Energy
demand
dropped in 2020,
yet the share of
100
fossil fuels barely
changed.
0
2009 2019 2020
COVID-19 lockdowns
7
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Declaration/
15 69
renewable
energy
wide
renewable
pledge targets energy
Proposed/
targets
in discussion
8
The rise in global energy demand in TFEC above 50%, and 20 countries, (used mainly in buildings and industry)
has offset the growth in renewable mostly in Europe and Latin America, and only 3.7% in transport.
energy deployment. As a result, the met at least a quarter of their total final
share of fossil fuels in total final energy energy consumption with renewables.
consumption (TFEC) has remained
Progress has been uneven across
almost the same since 2009. Renewables
sectors. Progress in renewable energy
met just over 12.6% of global final
deployment occurred mainly in the power
energy demand in 2020, up only slightly
sector, where the share of renewables
from 10.6% in 2009. Even the share of
is the highest, at 28% (although
renewables in final electricity demand
stagnated in 2020, compared to 2019. stagnating). (p See Figure below.) The
Despite record additions to renewable growth in renewable power capacity hit
power capacity in 2021, the surge in an all-time record – up 11% from 2020 –
global electricity demand was met and generation rose 6%. However, the
mostly with fossil fuels. For electricity power sector represents only 17% of the
generation, coal use grew 9%, compared world’s final energy consumption, well
with a 5% increase in generation from below other sectors. Heating, cooling
renewables. Also, progress has been and transport together account for more
uneven across regions. As of 2019, only than 80% of final energy demand, yet
3 countries out of 80 – Iceland, Norway their shares of renewables are much
and Sweden – had renewable shares smaller, at 11.2% for heating and cooling
Renewable Energy in Total Final Energy Consumption, by Final Energy Use, 2019
Increase in renewable
Share of Renewable Energy energy in %
30% +13.5 %
25%
20%
15%
+9.7 %
10%
5% +15.1%
0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Note: Data should not be compared with previous years because of revisions due to improved or adjusted methodology.
Source: Based on IEA data.
9
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Renewable Energy Shares in Total Final Energy Consumption for Selected Countries, 2019
Countries with
largest increase in
Iceland
renewable share
(2009-2019)
Note: Selected countries are among the largest energy-consuming countries in the world.
Source: Based on IEA data.
10
Policy support for renewables industry and transport, even though
remained strong in 2021 but was these sectors are responsible for the
directed mainly to the power sector. largest share of final energy demand
Although nearly all countries worldwide and growth, as well as CO 2 emissions. It
120
70
countries
Transport regulatory
90
incentives/
mandates
26
60
countries
30 Heating and cooling
regulatory
incentives/
mandates
0
2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021
Note: The figure does not show all policy types in use. In many cases countries have enacted additional fiscal incentives or public finance mechanisms to
support renewable energy. A country is considered to have a policy (and is counted a single time) when it has at least one national or state/provincial-level
policy in place. Power policies include feed-in tariffs (FITs)/feed-in premiums, tendering, net metering and renewable portfolio standards. Heating and
cooling policies include solar heat obligations, technology-neutral renewable heat obligations and renewable heat FITs. Transport policies include biodiesel
obligations/mandates, ethanol obligations/mandates and non-blend mandates.
11
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Fossil fuel bans are driving Climate change policy commitments Bold policy making is needed to drive
renewable energy deployment. accelerated in 2021. As countries structural changes. Supportive policy
Limiting the use of fossil fuels is a way to announced pledges and targets for net frameworks are critical to build efficient,
drive the structural shift towards a more zero emissions in the lead-up to COP26, renewable-based energy systems.
efficient and renewable-based energy the growing attention to decarbonisation Barriers to the expansion of low-cost
system, especially for sectors or regions became an increasingly important driver renewable energy production have
that rely heavily on fossil fuels. In 2021, of renewable energy support policies. By included a lack of regulatory policies
the number of proposed and passed the end of 2021, at least 135 countries for renewables, inconsistent policies
bans on fossil fuels surged, particularly and the EU had some form of net zero and lengthy permitting processes. To
bans on coal-fired power generation. target in place, covering nearly 85% of accelerate the shift to renewables,
In addition, several national and sub- the world’s population; however, not all short- and long-term targets, supportive
national jurisdictions announced bans of these jurisdictions have economy- policies and plans are needed, coupled
on the use of fuel oil and natural gas in wide renewable energy targets. with clear end dates for fossil fuels.
buildings, and on internal combustion Given energy’s strategic role in the
Policy action on energy and climate
engine vehicles in the transport sector. economy and society, ambitious policies
increased at the city level. By the
Coupled with this, the electrification and programmes are needed at all levels
end of 2021, around 1,500 cities had
of end-uses such as heating and road of government, in all sectors, and at the
renewable energy targets and/or policies,
transport emerged as a focus for heart of economic and industrial policies.
collectively covering more than 1.3 billion
decision makers. A successful transition also requires (re)
people, or 30% of the global urban
population. In line with global trends, net skilling engineers, installers and
zero announcements skyrocketed, with workers for new technologies and
targets present in more than 1,100 cities uses.
by year’s end. However, implementation
has lagged, as many measures either
are still under discussion or have no
status update available, highlighting the
critical need for master plans and the
deployment of renewables.
Share of Urban Population with a Renewable Energy Target and/or Policy, 2021
30%
of urban population
live in a city
with a renewable
energy target
and/or policy.
91-100%
81-90%
71-80%
61-70%
51-60%
41-50%
31-40%
21-30%
11-20%
1-10%
No data
Note: Calculations based on population in cities with renewable energy targets and/or policies and their share of the national population. Excludes cities with
energy efficiency, electric vehicle and/or net zero targets. Data not available for some countries.
12
A shift towards diversified energy The potential to transforming value
governance is happening. With chains and stimulate local economic
the right regulatory framework, the development is vast. Renewables
decentralised nature of renewable energy create jobs throughout the energy value
enables a diversity of players – including chain, from manufacturing to installation
13
than fossil fuels PV and wind power
on average
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
3%
record 314.5 GW of new renewable power planning, investment in infrastructure as
power sector
Renewable power – capacity was added – enough to power well as policies and regulatory frameworks
share increased
newable electricity
but not strong
by almost
every household in Brazil. The global
installed renewable power capacity
adapted to high shares of renewables need
to happen more. Many countries, spanning
62 %
Fossil fuels
8 enough
percentage
points
in the past decade.
reached 3,146 GW, a record high.
The biggest success stories are
from Denmark to Uruguay, Ireland, Australia
and Chile show that the grid can manage
high shares of up to 60% of variable
solar PV and wind. Together, these two
sources accounted for nearly 90% of all renewable electricity.
new renewable power additions. Solar PV More countries are becoming
represented more than half of additions renewable power players. The market
(around 175 GW) and wind power another diversified globally in 2021, and at least
102 GW. Alongside supportive regulatory 40 countries had more than 10 GW of
and policy frameworks, rapid cost renewable power capacity in operation
declines played a key role in the surge in by year’s end. China became the first
10 % Nuclear power
installations. In comparison, only 26 GW of
hydropower capacity was brought online
country ever to exceed 1 terawatt of
installed renewable energy capacity.
2021 in 2021, and for the first time concentrating
Renewable power success has been
solar thermal power (CSP) experienced a
supported by strong regulatory
Energy demand for decrease in installed capacity.
frameworks. The number of countries
power accounts for A system is more than ‘just’ renewable with renewable power policies increased
less than a power generation. Regional and sectoral in 2021, continuing a multi-year trend. As
14
RENEWABLES
RENEWABLES IN POWER
IN POWER
Non-power Power
314.5
R enough to
energy demand
power all
GW households
in Brazil
20.4 %
Share of renewable electricity share increased
by almost
Share of renewable electricity
62 %
Fossil fuels
8 percentage
points
in the past decade.
68 % 16% Hydropower 15%
Fossil fuels
Solar
2% and wind
power
10%
12% Nuclear power Bioenergy 10 % Nuclear power
2011
2% and geothermal
power
3% 2021
15
climate mitigation growth in cooling
finance allocated demand, the
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
to buildings is fastest of any
for solar thermal energy end-use
water heaters in buildings
% transition
demand is the fastest growing energy heating systems (including electric heat
able
energy end-use in buildings (up 4% per year)
and a significant driver of rising electricity
pumps) reached 25%.
16
RENEWABLES
RENEWABLES IN BUILDINGS
IN BUILDINGS
Energy demand for buildings accounts for
one-third of total final energy consumption
Breakdown of
energy demand
67% 33%
Non-buildings Buildings
energy demand 77%
Thermal
energy 23%
Electrical
energy
67 Bioenergy
51% of the 4
Electricity
supplies grew less than % annual
countries
11.7%
climate mitigation growth in cooling
of heating in
have mandatory or
voluntary building 1% annually
between 2010
finance allocated
to buildings is
demand, the
fastest of any
energy codes at for solar thermal energy end-use
buildings and 2020 water heaters in buildings
the national level
10.7 % 85.3%
heat generation in
buildings has grown
5.3 %
Share of renewables in buildings
Non-renewable
energy
89.3% 6% 9%
per year in a decade.
Non-renewable Renewable
electricity
energy
4% Modern
bio-heat
3.9 %
Solar and
geothermal
2009
0.7 % heat 1.8 % 2019
17
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
18
RENEWABLES IN INDUSTRY
AND
RENEWABLES IN INDUSTRY AND AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE
Energy demand for industry and agriculture accounts
for 31% of total final energy consumption
Breakdown of energy demand
17%
69% 29% 48%
Iron and steel
Industry
Non-industry or Others
15% petrochemical
Chemical and
agriculture
energy demand 6% Food and
tobacco
5%
7%
Paper and pulp
28 %
plus the EU have passed
roadmaps for more than
of hydrogen is agri-voltaic
currently
produced by
hydrogen
production of GDP; agriculture
represents around
policies
14 GW
fossil fuels
H2 4.3 % of GDP
H2
12.5
Share of renewables
heating rose
80%
in industry and agriculture
%
Share of renewables
83.9
in industry and agriculture
in a decade.
%
87.5
Non-renewable
%
Modern bioenergy
7.3 % 8.0 %
Non-renewable
energy
energy
Renewable electricity
5.0 % 8.0 %
Solar and
geothermal
0.1 %
heat
2009 2019
19
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
decarbonise
transport in their Nationally Determined and infrastructure continue to favour
Contributions under the Paris Agreement. motorised fossil fuel-based transport.
transport In addition, many renewable energy
targets, including those referring to
Meanwhile, consumers have shown a
preference towards larger vehicles and
biofuels and advanced biofuels, expired a reluctance to change their behaviour,
in 2020 and have not been replaced by supported by strong lobbying efforts
new ones. to maintain the status quo. Population
and economic growth, particularly in
developing and emerging countries, have
led to energy demand growing much
faster in the global transport sector than
in other sectors. Policies to reduce the
overall demand for private vehicles
remain scarce, and cost-effective
solutions are lacking.
20
RENEWABLES IN TRANSPORT
RENEWABLES IN TRANSPORT
Only
11 countries 31% of 16 million 40 %
28 countries and 20 cities have climate mitigation electric cars on growth in electric
have targets for targeted bans finance allocated the world‘s roads, bus sales in 2021,
renewable energy on sales of fossil to low-carbon around to total 4% of the
1%
in transport fuel/ICE vehicles transport global bus stock
of
the global fleet
96.3
in transport
%
97.6
Fossil fuels
%
Fossil fuels
Renewable electricity
0.2 % 0.4 %
Biofuels
2.2 % 3.3 %
2009 2019
Source: Based on IEA data.
21
RENEWABLES 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
RENEWABLES 2022
GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
More than
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22
The REN21 Secretariat has produced this document to highlight the important trends that have occurred in 2021 and to put
them in perspective of the global energy transition. It draws on elements from REN21’s Renewables 2022 Global Status Report.
Authoring: Lea Ranalder, Yasmine Adb El Aziz (REN21), Sabine Froning, Niels Reise (Communication Works)
DISCLAIMER:
REN21 releases issue papers and reports to
emphasise the importance of renewable energy
and to generate discussion on issues central
to the promotion of renewable energy. While
REN21 papers and reports have benefited from
the considerations and input from the REN21
community, they do not necessarily represent a
consensus among network participants on any
given point. Although the information given in
this report is the best available to the authors at
the time, REN21 and its participants cannot be
held liable for its accuracy and correctness.
23
KEY MESSAGES
2022
2022
REN21 Secretariat
c/o UN Environment Programme
1 rue Miollis
Building VII
75015 Paris
France
www.ren21.net