Page 4 - AfrElec Week 14 2021

AfrElec COMMENTARY AfrElec

New green additions rise by

nearly 50% in 2020

261 GW of new renewable power generating capacity was added globally in 2020,
beating the previous record annual increase by almost 50%., writes Richard Lockhart

GLOBAL NEW figures from the International Renewable future,” said La Camera.
Energy Agency (IRENA) show that, despite the “Costs are falling, clean tech markets are
WHAT: coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 261 GW growing and never before have the benefits of
261 GW of green of renewable energy capacity was added glob- the energy transition been so clear,” he added.
generating capacity was ally in 2020, beating the previous record annual The new additions mean that global green
added in 2029 increase by almost 50%. capacity now stands at 2,799 GW, up 10.3% on
IRENA said in its Renewable Capacity Statis- 2019, beating the underlying long-term trend.
WHY: tics 2021 report that renewables’ share of all new Hydropower still accounts for the largest share
Net decommissioning of generating capacity rose considerably for the of this total with 1,211 GW, although solar (714 Solar and wind
fossil fuel power plants second year in a row. More than 80% of all new GW) and wind (733 GW) are catching up fast. energy continued
expanded in Europe, electricity capacity added last year was renewa- Indeed, in 2019, solar added 127 GW (up
North America and for the ble, with solar and wind accounting for 91% of 22%) and wind 111 GW (up 91%), with hydro to dominate
first time across Eurasia new renewables. adding just 20 GW (up 2%) and bioenergy 2 GW
The report attributed the growth of renewa- (up 2%). renewable
WHAT NEXT: bles to net decommissioning of fossil fuel power Put simply, solar and wind energy contin-
The report warned that generation in Europe, North America and for ued to dominate renewable capacity expansion, capacity
more planned energy the first time across Eurasia (Armenia, Azerbai- jointly accounting for 91% of all net renewable expansion, jointly
investments must be jan, Georgia, Russian Federation and Turkey). additions in 2020.
redirected from fossil New fossil fuel capacity fell to 60 GW in 2020 Along with the renewed growth of hydro- accounting
fuels to renewables if from 64 GW in 2019, highlighting a continued power, this exceptional expansion in wind and
2050 targets are to be downward trend of fossil fuel expansion. solar led to the highest annual increase in renew- for 91% of all
met IRENA director-general Francesco La Cam- able generating capacity ever seen.
era said the figures represented the start of a net renewable
“decade of renewables.” Regional markets additions in 2020
“These numbers tell a remarkable story of China and the US were the two outstanding
resilience and hope. Despite the challenges growth markets in 2020.
and the uncertainty of 2020, renewable energy China, which was already the world’s largest
emerged as a source of undeniable optimism for market for renewables in 2019, added 136 GW in
a better, more equitable, resilient, clean and just 2020, with 72 GW of wind and 49 GW of solar.

P4 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 14 08•April•2021