Renewable energy policy
Encyclopedia
Renewable energy policy is the principal driver of the growth in renewable energy
use. As of 2011, 119 countries have some form of national renewable energy policy target or renewable support policy. National targets now exist in at least 98 countries. There is also a wide range of policies at state/provincial and local levels.
Developing countries, which represent more than half of all countries with policy targets and half of countries with renewable energy
support policies, are playing an increasingly important role in renewable energy commercialization
. One of the forces for the development of renewable energy policies is job creation and the creation of new industries. Jobs from renewables number in the hundreds of thousands in several countries.
As policies spread to more countries, the geography of renewable energy use is also changing. For example, commercial wind power
existed in just a few countries in the 1990s but now exists in at least 83 countries. Solar photovoltaics
capacity was added in more than 100 countries during 2010.
estimates that nearly 50% of global electricity supplies will need to come from renewable energy sources in order to halve carbon dioxide
emissions by 2050 and minimise significant, irreversible climate change
impacts. The principal driver of today's rapid renewable energy growth is policy. Growth of renewables is strongest where and when the policy-makers have established favourable policy frameworks. In many countries, a rich and diverse policy landscape exists at national and local levels.
As of 2011, 119 countries have some form of national renewable energy policy target or renewable support policy. National targets now exist in at least 98 countries. These
targets represent "commitments to shares of electricity production (typically 10–30%), total primary or final energy, heat supply, installed capacities of specific technologies, and shares of biofuels in road transport fuels".
City and local government policies for renewable energy use are a diverse and growing segment of the renewable energy policy landscape. Several hundred cities and other forms of local government around the world have adopted relevant goals, promotion policies, urban planning, and demonstrations.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
use. As of 2011, 119 countries have some form of national renewable energy policy target or renewable support policy. National targets now exist in at least 98 countries. There is also a wide range of policies at state/provincial and local levels.
Developing countries, which represent more than half of all countries with policy targets and half of countries with renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
support policies, are playing an increasingly important role in renewable energy commercialization
Renewable energy commercialization
Renewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat...
. One of the forces for the development of renewable energy policies is job creation and the creation of new industries. Jobs from renewables number in the hundreds of thousands in several countries.
As policies spread to more countries, the geography of renewable energy use is also changing. For example, commercial wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
existed in just a few countries in the 1990s but now exists in at least 83 countries. Solar photovoltaics
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material...
capacity was added in more than 100 countries during 2010.
Overview
The International Energy AgencyInternational Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis...
estimates that nearly 50% of global electricity supplies will need to come from renewable energy sources in order to halve carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
emissions by 2050 and minimise significant, irreversible climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
impacts. The principal driver of today's rapid renewable energy growth is policy. Growth of renewables is strongest where and when the policy-makers have established favourable policy frameworks. In many countries, a rich and diverse policy landscape exists at national and local levels.
| Selected global indicators | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries with policy targets for renewable energy use | 79 | 89 | 98 |
| States/provinces/countries with feed-in tariff Feed-in Tariff A feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. It achieves this by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology... s |
71 | 82 | 87 |
| States/provinces/countries with Renewable portfolio standard Renewable Portfolio Standard A Renewable Portfolio Standard is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal... policies |
60 | 61 | 63 |
| States/provinces/countries with biofuels mandates | 55 | 57 | 60 |
| Investment in new renewable capacity (annual) | 130 | 160 | 211 billion USD |
| Existing renewables power capacity, including large-scale hydro |
1,150 | 1,230 | 1,320 GWe |
| Existing renewables power capacity, excluding large hydro |
200 | 250 | 312 GWe |
| Wind power capacity (existing) | 121 | 159 | 198 GWe |
| Ethanol production (annual) | 67 | 76 | 86 billion liters |
As of 2011, 119 countries have some form of national renewable energy policy target or renewable support policy. National targets now exist in at least 98 countries. These
targets represent "commitments to shares of electricity production (typically 10–30%), total primary or final energy, heat supply, installed capacities of specific technologies, and shares of biofuels in road transport fuels".
City and local government policies for renewable energy use are a diverse and growing segment of the renewable energy policy landscape. Several hundred cities and other forms of local government around the world have adopted relevant goals, promotion policies, urban planning, and demonstrations.
See also
- Eric MartinotEric MartinotEric Martinot is research director with the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Tokyo, Japan. From 2005 to 2008 he resided in Beijing as visiting faculty at Tsinghua University, where he taught classes on sustainable energy. He remains an affiliate of the Tsinghua-BP Clean Energy Research...
- Renewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat...
- Deploying Renewables 2011Deploying Renewables 2011Deploying Renewables 2011: Best and Future Policy Practice is a 2011 book by the International Energy Agency. The book analyses the recent successes in renewable energy, which now accounts for almost a fifth of all electricity produced worldwide, and addresses how countries can best capitalize on...
- List of books about renewable energy