Renewable energy sector still on the rise

The United Nations reported in July that the renewable energy sector around the world has continued to perform well despite the global economic slowdown. The sector supplied an estimated 16% of global energy last year according to the REN21 secretariat report commissioned by the UN Environment Program.

Investment in renewable energy reached $211 billion in 2010, about one third more than in 2009.

Global solar power generation doubled last year compared to the previous year, and Germany installed more PV than the entire world added in 2009. Japan and the U.S. also doubled their PV markets relative to 2009.

Utility scale and biofuel projects increased to $143 billion, with developing countries surpassing developed economies for the first time.

Mohamed El-Ashry, chair of the REN21 steering committee, said: “The increased renewable energy activity in developing countries highlighted in this year’s report is very encouraging, since most of the future growth in energy demand is expected to occur in developing countries.”

Renewable energy policies by governments continue to be the main driver of renewable energy growth according to the report.