According to data by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewables made up an unprecedented 81% of the total new global energy capacity. By the end of the year, renewable energy hit a total of 3064 Gigawatt (GW) and secured a stock increase of 9.1%.

While hydropower continues to dominate the global total renewable generation with 1230 GW, solar and wind are the fastest-growing energy sources, making up 88% of the added green energy capacity. Solar power has notably outgrown wind power and took the lead, accounting for a 19 % increase in 2021. Wind power follows with a 13 % increase overall.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General International Renewable Energy Agency explained in the report that consistent action must be taken, and efforts should intensify: “Enormous efforts are required urgently to stay on the pathway to the 1.5°C climate goal. Choosing renewables should be the standard for new power additions as we act resolutely to stop new fossil fuel power generation, phase out the assets, and upgrade infrastructure to ensure system flexibility that allows a higher integration of variable renewables.”

La Camera’s call for renewables to become a standard and for the need for enormous efforts to be taken, also echoes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent report stating that if we are to curb the worst effects of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions should peak by 2025. To achieve these climate goals, the production of renewables must exceed the energy demand. However, the report shows that not all countries are set up to follow suit, and contributions are distributed rather unequally.

• Asia contributed 60% to the renewable energy increase and added a whopping 1.46 Terawatt (TW) of renewable capacity in 2021
• China contributed most of Asia’s new capacity, adding 121 GW
• Europe is the second-highest contributor, adding 39 GW
• North America is a close third, adding 38 GW
• In Africa, renewable energy grew by 3.9 %
• Central America and the Caribbean added 3.3 % of renewables to their energy capacity

While the numbers are encouraging and show that renewable energy has been resilient even in times of chaos and instability, they also clearly demonstrate that global efforts and international cooperation must become a norm. A recent report by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at Manchester University stated that the poorest nations should be allowed more time to make the transition, and wealthy countries should offer financial support.

“Despite representing steady growth, the pace in both regions [Africa and Central America / Caribbean] is much slower than the global average, “IRENA states in a press release,” indicating the need for stronger international cooperation to optimize electricity markets and drive massive investments in those regions.”

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