Page 5 - AfrElec Week 14 2021
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AfrElec COMMENTARY AfrElec
The US installed 29 GW of renewables, nearly to achieving universal access to power in Africa
80% more than in 2019, including 15 GW of and developing Asia, saw capacity grow by 365
solar and 14 GW of wind. MW in 2020 (2%) to reach 10.6 GW. Of this,
Regionally, Asia accounted for 64% of new solar expanded by 250 MW to reach 4.3 GW
capacity in 2020, increasing by 167.6 GW to and hydro remained almost unchanged at about
reach 1,290 GW (46% of the global total). A huge 1.8 GW.
part of this increase occurred in China. Growth in hydro recovered in 2020, with the
Capacity in Europe and North Amer- commissioning of several large projects delayed
ica expanded by 34 GW (+6.0%) and 32 GW in 2019. China added 12 GW of capacity, fol-
(+8.2%) respectively, with a notably large expan- lowed by Turkey with 2.5 GW.
sion in the US. It must be remembered that the growth of
Africa made good progress for its low base, an renewables is taking place against a background
increase of 2.6 GW, slightly more than in 2019. of continued dominance by fossil fuels in power
It was Oceania that remained the fastest generation globally.
growing region (+18.4%), although its share of Renewables accounted for 82% of new
global capacity is small and almost all expansion capacity in 2020, itself an improvement on 73%
occurred in Australia. in 2019.
However, renewables’ share of total global
Major developments generation capacity is still overshadowed by
The report noted that wind posted the most rapid fossil fuels. Green capacity accounted for 36.6%
growth in addition, almost doubling (up 91%) to in 2020, rising by two percentage points from
111 GW from 58 GW in 2019. China added 72 34.6% in 2019.
GW of this, followed by the US with 14 GW. Ten These global trends are unstoppable, La
other countries raised wind capacity by more Camera said. However, he warned that there is
than 1 GW in 2020. Offshore wind increased to still a huge amount to be done.
reach around 5% of total wind capacity in 2020. IRENA’s 1.5 degree outlook, which is out-
Total solar capacity has now reached about lined in its previous World Energy Transition
the same level as wind capacity thanks largely to Outlook report, warned that significant planned
expansion in Asia (78 GW) in 2020. energy investments must be redirected to sup-
There were major capacity rises in China (49 port the transition if 2050 emissions reduction
GW) and Vietnam (11 GW). Japan also added goals are to be met.
over 5 GW and India and South Korea both “In this critical decade of action, the inter-
expanded solar capacity by more than 4 GW. national community must look to this trend
The US added 15 GW. as a source of inspiration to go further,” he
Off-grid electricity, a sector hailed as the key concluded.
Week 14 08•April•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P5
