Energy Market & Energy Statistics

Aenert news. Energy Market & Energy Statistics
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released its traditional statistical review of renewable power generation capacity. The 2023 edition presents comprehensive information on power-generation capacity for 2013-2022, actual power generation for 2013-2021 and renewable energy balances for over 150 countries and areas for 2020-2021.

According to the Review, total renewable energy generation capacity in 2022 increased to 3,382 GW. Solar and wind continue to dominate renewable generation growth in 2021, increasing by 23% and 16%, respectively.

The most complete data on total renewable electricity generation is available for 2021, which amounted to 7,858 TWh, of which about 55% was hydropower, followed by wind (23%), solar (13%), bioenergy (8%), geothermal (1%) and marine energy. Of the 615 TWh of bioenergy produced, 70% came from solid biofuels, 15% – from biogas, 14% – from renewable household waste and 1% – from liquid biofuels.

Traditionally, the largest increase in renewable electricity generation came from Asia: in 2021, it amounted to 323 TWh, which is 80% of the global increase with China being the absolute leader in the region, followed by India and Japan. At the same time, Asian countries lead in all renewable energy types, except hydropower. Electricity generation from renewable hydropower sources increased by only 10 TWh in Europe and 7 TWh in Africa, while in all other regions it fell by total 82 TWh.

The share of power generation sources in China. Left - Q4 2021, right - Q4 2022


      
Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China

In Europe, the leaders by the total renewable electricity generated are Germany, Norway, Spain, the UK, and France.

Percentage of electric power generation by source type in Q4 2021 and Q4 2022 in EU



Source: Based on Eurostat

Asia leads not only in renewable electricity generation growth in 2021, but also in total share of global renewable generation with 44% of it, ahead of Europe with 19%, North America with 18%, and South America with 11%.

Percentage of electric power generation by source type in Q4 2021 and Q4 2022 in US


Source: Based on U.S. Energy Information Administration

Overall, electricity production from renewable sources in 2021 was 5.4% higher than in 2020, but when looking at total electricity production from all sources, the share of renewables in 2021 was 27.8%, only 0.2% higher than in 2020.

There was a slight increase in public investment in renewable energy in 2021, totaling approximately $18 billion. This is up from $17 billion in 2020. Investment growth was also heavily focused on wind and solar, while investment in other technologies continued to decline.

By the Editorial Board