Fuel report
Renewables 2019
Market analysis and forecast from 2019 to 2024
Renewables
Renewables, including solar, wind, hydro, biofuels and others, are at the centre of the transition to a less carbon-intensive and more sustainable energy system.
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Renewables have grown rapidly in recent years, driven by policy support and sharp cost reductions for solar photovoltaics and wind power in particular. The electricity sector remains the brightest spot for renewables with the strong growth of solar photovoltaics and wind in recent years, building on the already significant contribution of hydropower. But electricity accounts for only a fifth of global energy consumption, and the role of renewables in the transportation and heating sectors remains critical to the energy transition.
Last updated Jun 16, 2020
Key findings
Renewable electricity capacity additions, 2007-2021, updated IEA forecast
OpenThe Covid-19 crisis has led to a 20% revision in the IEA's 2020 forecast
The IEA forecasts that additions of renewable electricity capacity will decline by 13% in 2020 compared with 2019, the first downward trend since 2000. This is a 20% downward revision compared to our previous forecast in which 2020 was due to be a record year for renewable power. The update reflects both possible delays in construction activity due to supply chain disruptions, lockdown measures and social‑distancing guidelines, and emerging financing challenges. The outlook also takes into account ongoing policy uncertainty and market developments such as the most recent auctions and newly financed projects before the Covid-19 outbreak.
Renewable electricity generation by region and scenario, 2018-2040
OpenRenewables play a leading role in energy transitions
Cost reductions in renewables and advances in digital technologies are opening huge opportunities for energy transitions. Wind and solar PV provide more than half of the additional electricity generation to 2040 in the Stated Policies Scenario and almost all the growth in the Sustainable Development Scenario.
Share of renewables in power generation in the Sustainable Development Scenario, 2000-2030
OpenRenewable power needs to expand significantly to meet the IEA Sustainable Development Scenario share of half of generation by 2030
In 2019, renewable electricity generation rose 6%, with wind and solar PV technologies together accounting for 64% of this increase. Although the share of renewables in global electricity generation reached almost 27% in 2019, renewable power as a whole still needs to expand significantly to meet the SDS share of almost half of generation by 2030. This requires the rate of annual capacity additions to accelerate.
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Analysis
Flagship report
Sustainable Recovery
World Energy Outlook Special Report
Report
The Covid-19 Crisis and Clean Energy Progress
Impact on sectors and technologies
Tracking report
Tracking Power 2020
Tracking progress 2020
Tracking report
Renewable Power
Tracking progress 2020
Tracking report
Ocean Power
Tracking progress 2020
Tracking report
Geothermal
Tracking progress 2020
Tracking report
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
Tracking progress 2020
Events
05 Jun 2020 14:00—15:00
Smart4RES – data science for renewable energy prediction
29 May 2020 14:00—16:00
Ministerial Roundtable on Mobilising Investments for Secure and Sustainable Power Systems
7 Feb 2020
Market design for demand-side flexibility
6 Feb 2020
Power System Flexibility Expert Workshop
Latest news
The Covid-19 crisis is causing the biggest fall in global energy investment in history
The Covid-19 crisis is hurting but not halting global growth in renewable power capacity
Global energy demand to plunge this year as a result of the biggest shock since the Second World War
IEA and Denmark host ministerial roundtable discussion on making clean energy a key part of the global economic recovery
Reports
The IEA/IRENA Renewables Policies Database provides information on policies and measures taken or planned to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in all IEA and IRENA Member countries and signatories.
