Renewable energy performs well despite economic recession

The newly released REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report released here shows that in 2010 renewable energy supplied an estimated 16% of global final energy consumption, and delivered close to 20% of global electricity production. Renewable capacity, including hydropower, now comprises about a quarter of total global power-generating capacity.

The report “’ authored by World-watch Institute senior fellow Janet Sawin, in collaboration with a global network of research partners “’ added that including large and small hydropower (an estimated 30,000MW added in 2010), renewable energy accounted for approximately 50% of total added power-generating capacity in 2010. In the same year, existing solar water and space heating capacity increased by an estimated 16%.

The report was commissioned by the Paris-based Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, also known as REN21.