KEY MESSAGES FOR DECISION MAKERS - RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT Takeaways from the - REN21
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KEY MESSAGES
FOR DECISION MAKERS
2021
Takeaways from the
RENEWABLES
2021 GLOBAL
STATUS REPORT
RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
REN2 1 MEMBERS
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NGOS
Africa Minigrid Developers Association ORGANISATIONS Association Africaine pour
(AMDA) Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre l'Electrification Rurale (Club-ER)
Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) (APERC) CLASP
American Council on Renewable Asian Development Bank (ADB) Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA)
Energy (ACORE) ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Climate Action Network International
Associação Portuguesa de Energias Energy and Energy Efficiency (CAN-I)
Renováveis (APREN) (ECREEE) Coalition de Ciudades Capitales
Association for Renewable Energy of European Commission (EC) de las Americas (CC35)
Lusophone Countries (ALER) Energy Cities
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Euroheat & Power (EHP)
International Energy Agency (IEA)
Association (CREIA)
International Renewable Energy Fundación Energías Renovables (FER)
Clean Energy Council (CEC)
Agency (IRENA) Global 100% Renewable Energy
European Renewable Energies
Federation (EREF) Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Global Forum on Sustainable
Regional Center for Renewable Energy (GFSE)
Global Off-Grid Lighting Association
(GOGLA) Energy and Energy Efficiency Global Women's Network for the
(RCREEE) Energy Transition (GWNET)
Global Solar Council (GSC)
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) United Nations Development Greenpeace International
Indian Renewable Energy Federation Programme (UNDP) ICLEI – Local Governments for
(IREF) United Nations Environment Sustainability
International Geothermal Association Programme (UNEP) Institute for Sustainable Energy
(IGA) United Nations Industrial Development Policies (ISEP)
International Hydropower Association Organization (UNIDO) International Electrotechnical
(IHA) World Bank (WB) Commission (IEC)
Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa Jeunes Volontaires pour
(RES4Africa) Foundation l'Environnement (JVE)
Solar Power Europe Mali Folkecenter (MFC)
World Bioenergy Association (WBA) Power for All
World Wind Energy Association
Renewable Energy and Energy
(WWEA) Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
Renewable Energy Institute (REI)
Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI)
SCIENCE AND ACADEMIA GOVERNMENTS SLOCAT Partnership for Sustainable
AEE – Institute for Sustainable Afghanistan Low Carbon Transport
Technologies (AEE INTEC) Austria Solar Cookers International (SCI)
Council on Energy, Environment and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)
Brazil
Water (CEEW) World Council for Renewable
Denmark
Fundación Bariloche (FB) Energy (WCRE)
Dominican Republic
International Institute for Applied World Future Council (WFC)
Germany World Resources Institute (WRI)
Systems Analysis (IIASA)
India World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
Mexico
National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) Norway
National Research University Higher Republic of Korea MEMBERS AT LARGE
School of Economics, Russia (HSE) South Africa
Michael Eckhart
South African National Energy Spain
Mohamed El-Ashry
Development Institute (SANEDI) United Arab Emirates
David Hales
The Energy and Resources United States of America
Institute (TERI) Kirsty Hamilton
Peter Rae
PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Arthouros Zervos Rana Adib
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) REN21
2
RENEWABLE ENERGY
POLICY NETWORK
FOR THE 21 st CENTURY
REN21 is the only global renewable energy community of actors
from science, governments, NGOs and industry. We provide up-to-date
and peer-reviewed facts, figures and analysis of global developments
in technology, policies and markets. Our goal: enable decision-makers
to make the shift to renewable energy happen – now.
The most successful organisms, such as an octopus, have a decentralised
intelligence and "sensing" function. This increases responsiveness to a
changing environment. REN21 incarnates this approach.
Our more than 2,000 community members guide our co-operative work.
They reflect the vast array of backgrounds and perspectives in society.
As REN21’s eyes and ears, they collect information and share intelligence,
by sending input and feedback. REN21 takes all this information to better
understand the current thinking around renewables and change norms.
We also use this information to connect and grow the energy debate with
non-energy players.
Our annual publications, the Renewables Global Status Report and
the Renewables in Cities Global Status Report, are probably the world’s
most comprehensive crowdsourced reports on renewables. It is a truly
collaborative process of co-authoring, data collection and peer reviewing.
3
KEY MESSAGES
FOR DECISION MAKERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Making Renewable Energy
a Key Performance Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05
Renewable Energy
Shares and Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Technologies for a
Renewables Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
This document presents the overarching renewable
energy trends and perspectives from 2021 so that policy
makers and other decision makers can more easily
understand the significance of the latest developments.
It outlines what is happening to drive the energy
transition and details why it is not happening fast
enough or as fast as possible. It draws on the
meticulously documented data found in REN21’s
Renewables 2021 Global Status Report. See
the endnotes and methodological notes in the full
report for further details, at
www.ren21.net/gsr.
4
MAKING RENEWABLE ENERGY
A KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
2020 – a year
of new norms
Rising ambition and
The year 2020 was one of new norms. recovery packages
As the world witnessed the tragic
impacts of a pandemic, communities
are an opportunity
to channel needed funding
also experienced the health and well-
to renewable energy
being benefits stemming from the
and further accelerate
sudden decline in the use of fossil fuels,
the transition.
such as higher air quality and bluer skies.
People also understood, collectively, the
importance of governments mobilising
quickly in the face of a crisis – in response As a result, 2020 was also a year of Renewable energy is central to the
not only to the immediate public health accelerating ambition. The total number solution, both to continue to fight climate
challenge and the economic recession of national targets for achieving net zero change at scale and to overcome the
that followed, but also to longer-term emissions (including targets already post-pandemic economic recession.
crises related to air pollution, climate in law, proposed and drafted) covered Growing commitments towards net
change and biodiversity loss. countries responsible for more than 80% zero emissions highlight a rising tide of
of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. awareness of the urgent action needed
The public consensus increasingly to address climate change and air
reflects the emerging vision to move pollution and to accelerate sustainable
beyond fossil fuels, which are responsible development. Rising ambition and
for nearly 90% of CO 2 emissions. Under economic recovery packages also
pressure from citizens, civil society and provide an opportunity to channel
the courts, countries are being forced to needed funding to renewable energy
strengthen their own climate plans, while and further accelerate the transition.
fossil fuel companies are losing legal
and shareholder battles. At the same
time, businesses are buying ever larger
amounts of renewable energy.
5
RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
However, a heightened profile does At the same time, the world is burning
not automatically translate into more fossil fuels than ever. Since
Persistent action and implementation. Obstacles
that have prevented the growth
2009, the share of fossil fuels in final
energy consumption has remained the
Challenges for of renewable energy in past years
continued during 2020. They include
same, and global energy demand has
expanded around 20%. Renewable
Renewables the lack of integrated, cross-sectoral energy meets just over 11% of global final
strategies to drive the transition; the energy demand – only a slight increase
lack of sufficient policy support and from around 9% a decade ago.
enforcement; persistent support for
.
fossil fuels; the need for infrastructure
development and increased affordability
in some markets; and the need for more
innovation in some sectors. Together,
they have led to only a slow increase in
the share of renewable energy in final
energy demand.
Renewable energy meets
just over 11% of global
final energy demand –
only a slight
increase
from around 9%
a decade ago.
Estimated Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption
2009 and 2019
Exajoules (EJ)
400
11.2 %
Modern
renewables 8.7 % Others
300 8.7 %
11.0 % Others
200
The
share of
80.3 % 80.2 % fossil fuels in
final energy demand
Fossil fuels Fossil fuels
barely changed over
100
one decade.
0
2009 2019
Modern
Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding. This figure shows a comparison between two years across a 10-year span. The result of the renewables
economic
recession in 2008 may have temporarily lowered the share of fossil fuels in total final energy consumption in 2009. The share in 2008 was 80.7%.
Source: Based on IEA data. 2019 11.2 %
6
4.2 % 3.6 % 2.4 % 1.0 %
The share of renewables has increased The persistent share of fossil fuels, as well These sectors also saw more difficulty
only moderately each year despite as increasing energy demand, underscore in 2020 than in past years. The uptake
tremendous growth in some renewable the complementary and fundamental of modern renewables for heating
energy sectors. Renewables grew almost roles of energy conservation and and cooling progressed slowly,
5% per year between 2009 and 2019, efficiency alongside renewables and consumption of renewable heat
outpacing growth in fossil fuels (1.7%). to increase the renewable share while fell during the pandemic. Similarly, in
However, energy demand also grew meeting global energy needs. However, contrast to previous years when the
significantly over the period. As a result, energy conservation, energy efficiency share of renewables showed some
renewables accounted for only one- and renewable energy are not enough growth, albeit limited, the transport
quarter of the total growth in the world’s by themselves; it also is necessary to sector’s renewable energy share
use of energy. leave fossil fuels in the ground and did not increase in 2020. The uptake
Energy efficiency also faced challenges to phase out existing fossil fuel of renewables in heating and transport
in 2020. The rate of improvement in capacity. is constrained by these sectors’ high
energy intensity (a common indicator Progress that has been made has dependence on fossil fuels, which is
of energy efficiency) has been declining occurred primarily in the power sector, exacerbated by persistent fossil fuel
since 2015, and in 2020 the rate was half where the share of renewables is subsidies, insufficient renewable energy
that of the previous two years. highest. However, overall energy use in policy support and enforcement, and
the power sector is much lower than slow developments in new technologies
energy consumed in other sectors, (such as advanced biofuels).
such as heating, cooling and transport.
Together, these other sectors account for
more than 80% of final energy demand,
yet their renewable energy shares are
much lower than for the power sector.
Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption
by Final Energy Use, 2018
Heating and Cooling
51% Transport
32% Power
17%
10.2% 3.4% 27.1%
Renewable Renewable Renewable
energy energy energy
Note: Data should not be compared with previous years because of revisions due to improved or adjusted methodology.
Source: Based on IEA data.
7
RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
At the same time, 2020 offered some The status of renewable energy in
bright spots. Although the early phase 2020 shows that a structural shift
of the pandemic was a difficult period from fossil fuels to renewables is
for renewables, new renewable power required. A structural shift does not
capacity hit a record increase globally. mean moderately increasing the share
Renewables were the only source of of renewable energy from one year to
electricity generation to experience a net another. It does not mean gradually
increase. Investment in renewable power lowering the contribution of fossil fuels.
grew for the third consecutive year, and It means transitioning from fossil fuels
corporations continued to break records to a renewable energy-based system
for sourcing renewable electricity. More in all societal and economic activities.
countries are turning to electrification Targets, policies and investment are the
of heat with renewable energy, and tools on our workbench – and reaching
although production of transport significantly higher shares of renewable
biofuels decreased, electric vehicle sales energy is the blueprint we must follow.
expanded, as did the linking of these
vehicles to renewable electricity.
Reaching significantly
higher shares
of renewable
energy is the
blueprint we must follow.
8
Most of the world’s largest countries and not always on track leading up to 2021.
greatest emitters of greenhouse gases Overall, some 80 targets for 2020 had
Renewable lack clear, economy-wide objectives to
shift to renewables in all sectors. Only
already been met, while the majority (134)
had not yet been achieved, according to
Energy Targets five members of the G20 – the European the latest data available.
Union (EU-27), France, Germany, Italy
Even when countries meet their
and the United Kingdom – had set 2020
commitments, they do not always set new
targets to achieve a specific share of
ones to chart the path towards higher
renewables in final energy use, and some
ambition. Only half of the countries with
were clearly not on track to achieve their
2020 targets had set later more ambitious
own targets by year’s end.
targets by year’s end. Worse still, most
Overall, 165 countries had targets in place of the countries that have not set new
to achieve certain levels of renewable targets had not yet even achieved their
energy by 2020. However, most of the first. In short, countries are missing the
targets were only for the power sector. mark and are failing to plan ahead to
In addition, these target-setters were increase their ambition.
Renewable Energy Shares and Targets
G20 Countries, 2019 and 2020
Share of renewables in TFEC (%)
50
Share of
40 renewable energy
in TFEC in 2019
Target for
30
renewables in TFEC
for year-end 2020
20
No target for 2020
10
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CALL TO ACTION
Governments and businesses must set targets for
renewable energy in all sectors and build on them with
new, bolder goals by the time they meet the original target.
9
RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Countries do not achieve their targets in Supportive policy frameworks are
large part because they lack a supportive critical to build renewables-based
Policies to Support policy framework, or because the policy
frameworks they have are ineffective or
energy systems around the world.
The successful uptake of renewable
Renewable Energy not enforced. This year of new norms –
2020 – highlighted inaction among the
energy has been driven by bold policy
making. However, unconditional support
and Phase Out world’s policy makers and the lack of for propping up fossil fuels continues,
Fossil Fuels concrete measures to decarbonise their
economies. It was the first year in
while renewables receive far less
support. The world will not reach its
which the number of countries with climate and development goals until
renewable energy support policies renewable energy is prioritised.
did not increase.
In addition, stable policies are crucial to
In addition, the heating and cooling ensure that targets for renewables and
and transport sectors lag far behind net zero emissions are achieved. Today’s
the power sector. While the number of stop-and-go policy making poses a
countries with policies for renewable grave threat to the future development of
energy in transport plateaued in 2017, renewables.
the number of countries with policies
for heating and cooling peaked that year
and has been declining ever since.
CALL TO ACTION
Targets have to be backed up by policies that support the uptake
of renewables by incentivising and/or mandating their use. But this
is not enough – governments also need to actively phase out the use
of fossil fuels and fossil fuel subsidies.
Number of Countries with Renewable Energy Regulatory Policies
2010–2020
Number of Countries 145
countries
150
Power regulatory
incentives/
mandates
120
65
countries
90
Transport regulatory
incentives/
mandates
60
22
30
countries
Heating and cooling
regulatory
incentives/
mandates
0
2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
Note: Figure does not show all policy types in use. In many cases countries have enacted additional fiscal incentives or public finance mechanisms to
support renewable energy. A country is considered to have a policy (and is counted a single time) when it has at least one national or state/provincial-level
policy in place. Power policies include feed-in tariffs (FITs) / feed-in premiums, tendering, net metering and renewable portfolio standards. Heating and
cooling policies include solar heat obligations, technology-neutral renewable heat obligations and renewable heat FITs. Transport policies include biodiesel
obligations/mandates, ethanol obligations/mandates and non-blend mandates.
10Global investment in renewable power Economic recovery packages provide
capacity withstood the economic crisis an opportunity to reorient investment.
Renewable triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic,
totalling USD 303.5 billion in 2020. This
However, despite international calls to
“build back better” during the COVID-
Energy Investment 2% increase over 2019 marks a significant
rebound, particularly given conditions at
19 crisis, investment in fossil fuels in
COVID-19 recovery packages was
the start of the year. six times higher than for renewable
energy.
However, this annual increase of 2%
is well below necessary levels. At this Beyond recovery funds, fossil fuel
rate, total growth in renewable energy subsidies remain in the hundreds of
investment will be only 22% by 2030. billions of dollars, far above the support
To reach global climate and sustain- for renewables. In addition, investment
able development goals, annual in new fossil fuel production and related
investment in renewables must at infrastructure continued in many
least triple by 2030i, for a total increase countries. In 2020, the world saw the first
of 200%. annual increase in global coal capacity
since 2015.
CALL TO ACTION
A structural shift means channelling funding from fossil fuels
to energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable
energy. At the same time, the overall level of renewable energy
investment must be increased dramatically.
i See IEA, Net Zero by 2050 and IRENA, World Energy Transition Outlook (Preview).
Energy Investments in COVID-19 Recovery Packages of 31 Countries
January 2020 to April 2021
42%
Fossil fuels
29%
Enabling
technologies
and energy
efficiency
22%
Other
7% Renewables
Source: EnergyPolicyTracker.org.
Note: Although the energy produced from solid waste combustion is efficient, it cannot be considered entirely renewable as solid waste also contains
inorganic material. Generally, about 50% of energy from municipal solid waste is classified as renewable. Multiple renewables include geothermal and ocean
power. Enabling technologies include e-mobility and renewable hydrogen. The “Other” category refers to other types of energy-related policies including,
among others, nuclear energy, incineration, hydrogen from unspecified sources, and multiple energy types (for example intertwined fossil fuels and clean
energy). Where totals do not add up, the difference is due to rounding.
11RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Renewable Nothing will happen unless we measure
the right indicator. Considering the
The share of renewable energy reflects
developments in energy demand, energy
Energy as a urgency of accelerating the structural conservation, energy efficiency and
shift from fossil fuels to renewables in emissions in addition to renewable energy
Key Performance all societal and economic activities, it is uptake and the reduction of fossil fuel
Indicator in not enough anymore to track renewable
energy targets, policies and investment.
use. Reaching a high renewable energy
share can be used as the blueprint for
All Economic The world’s progress towards global a structural shift towards a transformed
climate and sustainable development energy world.
Activities goals can be measured by a simple
Therefore, this indicator should be
key performance indicator: the share
integrated at every level of decision
of renewable energy.
making. Because energy is everywhere,
the energy transition needs to happen
everywhere. This particular key per-
formance indicator lets people measure
progress and ensure engagement
globally, nationally, in regions, in cities,
in any economic sector and even in
businesses.
share of
The CALL TO ACTION
renewable Make progress in renewables a key performance indicator
in all economic activities, and use the renewable energy share
energy must be to monitor advancement.
integrated at every level of
decision making.
12Renewable Energy Indicators 2020
2019 2020
INVESTMENT
New investment (annual) in renewable power and fuels1 billion USD 298.4 303.5
POWER
Renewable power capacity (including hydropower) GW 2,581 2,838
Renewable power capacity (not including hydropower) GW 1,430 1,668
Hydropower capacity 2 GW 1,150 1,170
Solar PV capacity 3
GW 621 760
Wind power capacity GW 650 743
Bio-power capacity GW 137 145
Geothermal power capacity GW 14.0 14.1
Concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) capacity GW 6.1 6.2
Ocean power capacity GW 0.5 0.5
HEAT
Modern bio-heat demand (estimated)4 EJ 13.7 13.9
Solar hot water demand (estimated) 5
EJ 1.5 1.5
Geothermal direct-use heat demand (estimated)6 PJ 421 462
TRANSPORT
Ethanol production (annual) billion litres 115 105
FAME biodiesel production (annual) billion litres 41 39
HVO biodiesel production (annual) billion litres 6.5 7.5
POLICIES 7
Countries with renewable energy targets # 172 165
Countries with renewable energy policies # 161 161
Countries with renewable heating and cooling targets # 49 19
Countries with renewable transport targets # 46 35
Countries with renewable electricity targets # 166 137
Countries with heat regulatory policies # 22 22
Countries with biofuel blend mandates 8
# 65 65
Countries with feed-in policies (existing) # 83 83
Countries with feed-in policies (cumulative)9 # 113 113
Countries with tendering (held during the year) # 41 33
Countries with tendering (cumulative)9 # 111 116
1 Data are from BloombergNEF and include investment in new capacity of all biomass, geothermal and wind power projects of more than 1 MW; all hydropower
projects of between 1 and 50 MW; all solar power projects, with those less than 1 MW estimated separately; all ocean power projects; and all biofuel projects
with an annual production capacity of 1 million litres or more. Total investment values include estimates for undisclosed deals as well as company investment
(venture capital, corporate and government research and development, private equity and public market new equity).
2 The GSR strives to exclude pure pumped storage capacity from hydropower capacity data.
3 Solar PV data are provided in direct current (DC).
4 Includes bio-heat supplied by district energy networks and excludes the traditional use of biomass. See Reference Table R1 in the GSR 2021 Data Pack and related
endnote for more information.
5 Includes glazed (flat-plate and vacuum tube) and unglazed collectors only. The number for 2020 is a preliminary estimate.
6 The estimate of annual growth in output is based on a survey report published in early 2020. The annual growth estimate for 2020 is based on the annualised
growth rate in the five-year period since 2014.
7 A country is counted a single time if it has at least one national or state/provincial target or policy.
8 Biofuel policies include policies listed both under the biofuel obligation/mandate column in Table 6 and in Reference Table R8 in the GSR 2021 Data Pack.
9 Data reflect all countries where the policy has been used at any time up through the year of focus at the national or state/provincial level.
Note: All values are rounded to whole numbers except for numbersRENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Power Heating and cooling Transport
17% 51% 32%
RENEWABLE ENERGY SHARES AND POLICIES
27.1 %
HEATING10.
&2COOLING
%
Renewable energy
3.4 %
Renewable energy Renewable energy
Renewable Energy in Total Final Energy Consumption, by Final Energy Use, 2018
Heating and cooling Transport Power
Policies
51% 32% 17% subsidising
10.2 % 3.4 % 27.1 % fossil fuels still
Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy clash with those that
encourage the uptake of
renewable heating and
cooling.
Heating and cooling Transport Power
What is the story?
The share of renewable energy in meeting heating and cooling needs is still
51% 32 17
low. It is increasing only slowly, despite large growth in some technologies, as
% %
shown below. In order to increase the use of renewable heating and cooling,
3.4
policies
% are needed that improve the affordability of these technologies and
level the energy
Renewable playing field compared to fossil fuels.
Heating and cooling Transport Power
Renewable Energy Contribution to Heating in Buildings
by Technology, 2009 and 2019
51% 32% 17%
7.8 %
Share of renewables in
2009 27.1 %
2019
Renewable energy 10.4
Share of renewables in
%
building heat demand building heat demand
3.0 EJ 4.3 EJ
4.2
Modern
EJ 1.7 EJ Renewable electricity
for heat
Modern
bioenergy
bioenergy
1.5 EJ
Solar thermal heat
0.5 EJ
0.2 EJ Geothermal 0.6 EJ
heat
0.2 EJ 0.4 EJ
Renewable district heat
14Sectoral Coverage of National Renewable Heating and Cooling Financial and Regulatory Policies
as of End-2020
Number of
sectors covered
4 sectors
3 sectors
2 sectors
1 sector
Renewable energy mandate
Zero sectors or no data Other support policy
Note: Sectors include residential, industrial, commercial and public facilities. Policy types
used for map shading include investment subsidies/grants, rebates, tax credits, tax
deductions, loans and feed-in tariffs. Renewable energy mandates are the obligation to
meet a certain renewable standard for heat, such as the use of a specified technology.
Other support policies include fossil fuel bans, support for phasing out fossil fuels, CO2
pricing for heat and support for R&D. Figure does not show policies at the local level; for
local level data, see REN21 Renewables in Cities Global Status Report, www.ren21.net/cities.
Source: REN21 Policy Database.
Population with Access to Modern Energy Cooking Services
by Region, 2020
Modern energy
cooking services
(Tier 4 and above)
Transition
(Tiers 2 and 3)
No modern energy
cooking services
Latin America and
the Caribbean Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia East Asia South-East Asia
15 % 10%
56 % 27% 36 % 21%
17% 33 %
54 % 55 %
29 % 73 % 19 % 31% 24 %
Source: ESMAP.
15RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL
Heating andSTATUS REPORT
cooling Transport Power
51% 32% 17%
RENEWABLE
10.2 %
ENERGY3.4SHARES
%
AND27.1
POLICIES
%
TRANSPORT
Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy
Renewable Energy in Total Final Energy Consumption, by Final Energy Use, 2018
Heating and cooling Transport Power
Overall, the
transport sector is
51% 32% 17% not on track
3.4 % to meet global climate
Renewable energy targets for 2030 and
2050.
WhatHeating
is the and
story?
cooling Transport Power
Transport is the sector with the lowest share
of renewable energy. It is also a heavy energy-
consuming sector, accounting for 32% of global
final energy demand. Biofuels are the dominant
source of renewable energy for transport, and the
51
% 32% 17%
contribution of (renewable) electricity remains
27.1 %
low. Policy attention is urgently needed to electrify Renewable energy
transport with renewable energy and increase the
use of renewable fuels.
National and Sub-National Renewable Transport Mandates
End-2020
National biofuel blend
mandate, 10% or above
National biofuel blend
mandate, below 10%
Sub-national biofuel
blend mandate only
No policy
Countries with existing
advanced biofuel mandates
Note: Shading shows countries and states/provinces with mandates for either biodiesel, ethanol or both.
Source: REN21 Policy Database.
16Only
Targets for Renewable Power and Electric Vehicles
as of End-2020
8 countries
with targeted bans on
internal combustion
engine vehicles have
100% renewable power
targets.
Level of national
renewable power
share targeted for
jurisdictions with
EV targets
91-100%
81-90%
71-80%
Balearic Islands
61-70%
51-60%
41-50%
Hainan Province
31-40%
21-30% Sub-national renewable
power target
11-20%
100% electric vehicle target or targeted ban
1-10% on internal combustion engine vehicles
Note: Renewable power targets include only targets for a specific share of electricity generation by a future year. Where a jurisdiction has multiple targets, the
highest target is shown. Nepal and Quebec show actual renewable power shares; both jurisdictions along with Iceland and Norway have already achieved
nearly 100% renewable power. Electric vehicle targets vary; for details, see Reference Tables R6 and R8 in the GSR 2021 Data Pack.
Source: REN21 Policy Database.
Avoid-Shift-Improve Framework in the Transport Sector
AVOID SHIFT IMPROVE
Avoid or reduce the need Shift to more efficient, Improve efficiency,
for motorised travel less carbon-intensive modes vehicle technology and fuels
■ Transport demand ■ Public transport, intercity and ■ Fuel economy
management high-speed rail, and new
mobility services (powered by ■ Renewable fuels
■ Mixed-use, transit-oriented (e.g., sustainable biofuels,
renewable energy)
development renewable electro-fuels)
■ Zero emission logistics
■ Active transport ■ Renewable-based
and last-mile delivery
(e.g., walking, cycling) electric vehicles
■ Telecommuting
17RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Heating and cooling Transport Power
RENEWABLE ENERGY
51% SHARES32AND
% POLICIES
17%
POWER 3.4 %
Renewable energy
Renewable Energy in Total Final Energy Consumption, by Final Energy Use, 2018
Heating and cooling Transport Power
In 2020, wind power
and solar PV generated
51% 32% 17% more than
27.1 %
Renewable energy
20%
of electricity in
nine countries.
What is the story?
Renewables make their greatest contribution to
the power sector. The share has risen quickly
in recent years and reached 29% in 2020, up
from 27% in 2018. The power sector continued
to receive the bulk of renewable energy
policy attention in 2020, as in previous years.
Although feed-in policies remain a widely used
mechanism, in 2020 the shift continued from
feed-in policies to tenders and auctions..
Global Electricity Production by Source, and Share of Renewables
2010-2020
Electricity Production (TWh) Share of renewable electricity (%)
30,000 50 %
Share of
renewable electricity
25,000
Fossil fuels
Nuclear power
20,000
Hydropower
Non-hydro renewables
15,000 25 %
10,000
5,000
0 0%
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Source: Ember.
18Global Investment in Renewable Power Capacity
Developed, Emerging and Developing Countries, 2010-2020
Billion USD
2%
350 increase
World Total
from 2019
304 to 2020
300
250 China European
Union and
Other United
200 developing Kingdom
and
emerging United
countries States
150
Other
140.9
123.0
developed
95.0
69.4
94.4
115.8
83.6
42.9
58.3
countries
53.0
57.1
83.8
100.7
47.5
40.4
100
40.2 29.1 47.6
86.2
53.9
31.6
60.6
40.7 39.5
61.7
40.4 37.6
31.4 49.3
32.2 45.7
31.9 42.8
32.2 40.8
50
24 35.0
18 44.2
70.3
69.8
66.6
54.2
50.2
47.6
46.2
43.4
42.6
32.8
28.5
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Note: Figure includes utility-scale renewable energy and small-scale solar projects and excludes large hydropower projects of more than 50 MW.
Source: BloombergNEF.
Solar PV
mini-grids
are increasingly the
preferred technology
for providing electricity
access across Africa
and Asia.
Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs and Tenders
2010-2020
Number of countries
120
116 The shift towards
competitive
100 auctions
and tenders
83 continued
in 2020.
80
60
Feed-in tariff /
premium payment
Tendering
40
20
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Source: REN21 Policy Database.
19RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
GLOBAL INVESTMENT 2020
Global Investment in Renewable Energy Capacity
by Country and Region, 2010-2020
United States
Billion USD
80
61.7
49.3
60
45.7
44.2
42.8
40.8
37.6
35.0
31.6
29.1
40
26.1
20
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 United States
Americas (excl. United States & Brazil)
Billion USD
14.6
20
13.5
13.1
12.0
11.5
11.1
10.0
15
9.8
9.1
9.1
6.6
10
5 Americas
(excl. United States & Brazil)
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Brazil Brazil
Billion USD
15
9.7
8.7
7.6
7.1
6.7
6.4
10
6.0
5.4
5.1
3.9
3.4
5 Middle East & North Africa
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Sub-Saharan Africa
Middle East & North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa
Billion USD Billion USD
10.9
10.0
15 10
6.9
6.6
8.9
5.4
8.3
5.0
10
6.0
5.6
5.2
3.3
3.2
2.8
2.6
5
2.4
2.0
3.3
1.3
2.2
2.1
2.2
5
0 0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Note: Figures include utility-scale renewable energy and small-scale solar projects and exclude large hydropower projects of more than 50 MW. The regions in
this figure follow those presented in the BNEF Energy Transition Investment 2021 report and differ from the regional definitions included elsewhere in the GSR.
Source: BloombergNEF.
20In 2020,
solar power
was the only renewable
energy technology to
experience an increase
in investments.
Europe
Billion USD
Europe
127.6
150
106.7
120
89.0
81.8
90
64.9
63.6
59.3
58.5
54.0
52.2
46.3
60
30
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
China China
Billion USD
140.9
150
115.8
100.7
120
94.4
95.0
86.2
83.6
90
60.6
53.9
60
39.5
34.8
Asia & Oceania 30
(excl. China & India) India
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Asia & Oceania (excl. China & India)
Billion USD
51.2
50.8
60 India
48.0
45.4
45.3
Billion USD
41.1
13.5
50
12.9
38.2
37.2
11.2
10.7
15
9.7
40
27.1
7.5
10
6.3
6.4
6.1
6.2
4.7
30
20.2
5
15.0
20 0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
10
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
21RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
TOP FIVE COUNTRIES 2020
Annual Investment / Net Capacity Additions / Production in 2020
Technologies ordered based on total capacity additions in 2020.
1 2 3 4 5
Solar PV capacity China United States Vietnam Japan Germany
Wind power capacity China United States Brazil Netherlands Spain or Germany
Hydropower capacity China Turkey Mexico India Angola
Geothermal power capacity Turkey United States Japan – –
oncentrating solar thermal
C
power (CSP) capacity China – – – –
Solar water heating capacity China Turkey India Brazil United States
Ethanol production United States Brazil China Canada India
Biodiesel production Indonesia Brazil United States Germany France
More than
256 GW of
renewable power capacity
was added globally
in 2020 – beating the
previous record by
nearly 30%.
22Total Power Capacity or Demand / Output as of End-2020
1 2 3 4 5
POWER
Renewable power capacity
China United States Brazil India Germany
(including hydropower)
Renewable power capacity
China United States Germany India Japan
(not including hydropower)
Renewable power capacity per
Iceland Denmark Sweden Germany Australia
capita (not including hydropower)1
Bio-power capacity China Brazil United States Germany India
Geothermal power capacity United States Indonesia Philippines Turkey New Zealand
Hydropower capacity 2
China Brazil Canada United States Russian Federation
Solar PV capacity China United States Japan Germany India
Concentrating
solar thermal
power (CSP) capacity Spain United States China Morocco South Africa
Wind power capacity China United States Germany India Spain
HEAT
Modern
bio-heat demand in
United States Germany France Italy Sweden
buildings
Modern bio-heat demand Brazil India United States Finland Sweden
in industry
Solar water heating collector
China Turkey India Brazil United States
capacity 2
Geothermal heat output3 China Turkey Iceland Japan New Zealand
1 Per capita renewable power capacity (not including hydropower) ranking based on data gathered from various sources for more than 70 countries and on 2019
population data from the World Bank.
2 Solar water heating collector ranking for total capacity is for year-end 2020 and is based on capacity of water (glazed and unglazed) collectors only. Data from
International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Programme.
3 Not including heat pumps.
Note: Most rankings are based on absolute amounts of investment, power generation capacity or output, or biofuels production; if done on a basis of per capita,
national GDP or other, the rankings would be different for many categories (as seen with per capita rankings for renewable power not including hydropower and
solar water heating collector capacity).
23RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
TECHNOLOGIES FOR A RENEWABLES REVOLUTION
HEATING & COOLING
What are the technology options?
Technologies that help increase the share of renewables in
heating and cooling include solar thermal heating, geothermal
heat, bioenergy and renewable electricity (e.g., heat pumps).
Markets for solar thermal heating and heat pumps grew in
2020, and geothermal heat use is rising, while bioenergy use
has been mainly flat in recent years.
Solar Water Heating Collectors Global Capacity
2010-2020
501
Gigawatts-thermal
501
500 482 478 World
472
456 Gigawatts- Total
435 thermal
409
400
374
330
Glazed
300 285 collectors
Unglazed
242 collectors
200
100
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Note: Data are for glazed and unglazed solar water collectors and do not include concentrating, air or hybrid collectors. The drop in 2019 was caused by
revised annual additions for China in 2019 and new assumptions for projecting total capacity in operation for 2019 and 2020.
Source: IEA SHC.
24Geothermal direct
Geothermal Direct Use
Estimates for Top 10 Countries and Rest of World, 2020 use capacity
Terawatt-hours
increased
75 by around
8% in 2020.
50
25
0
Rest of
ra n
a
il
y
an
d
y
d
ly
es
n
de sia
az
in
r
ke
an
n
Ita
ga
World
tio
at
p
la
Ch
Br
r
Fe us
Ja
al
St
Tu
un
e
Ze
Ic
R
H
d
te
ew
i
Un
N
Global Bioenergy Use for Heating
by End-Use, 2009-2019 Total average
annual change:
+1.2%
Exajoules
15
District heating
+5.9%
Industry
12 Buildings,
modern bioenergy
+1.4%
8
4
+0.3%
0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019
Source: Based on IEA.
25RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
TECHNOLOGIES FOR A RENEWABLES REVOLUTION
TRANSPORT
What are the technology options? The United States and
Biofuels, including ethanol and biodiesel, make up most of the renewable energy Brazil, the two leading
contribution to the transport sector. Electric vehicles provide an opportunity to increase
producers of biofuels,
the renewable share with electricity. Biofuels production fell in 2020 in the wake of the
account for around
80% of global
COVID-19 crisis, but the overall share of biofuels in the sector remained stable.
On the contrary, sales of electric cars exploded, and some markets saw significant
growth in the market share of electric cars.
production.
Global Production of Ethanol, Biodiesel and HVO/HEFA Fuel
by Energy Content, 2010-2020
Energy content (exajoules)
4.1%
4
Average annual
growth
3
HVO/HEFA
2 Biodiesel (FAME)
Ethanol
1
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Note: HVO = hydrotreated vegetable oil; HEFA = hydrotreated esters and fatty acids; FAME = fatty acid methyl esters
260.5
0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2020
Electric Car Global Sales
Top Countries and Rest of World, 2015-2020
Sales in million units 2020 share of global sales
3.0
5.4 % Rest of World
5.9 % United Kingdom
2.5 6.2 % France
9.9 % United States
2.0 13.2 % Germany
1.5 20.5 % Rest of Europe
1.0
38.9 % China
0.5
0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2020
Note: Includes battery electric passenger vehicles and plug-in hybrid passenger electric vehicles.
Source: IEA.
Sales of electric cars
grew 41%
Market Share of Electric Cars in Annual Sales
Top Large Markets and World, 2020 in 2020,
while total car sales
Market Share declined.
80%
74.8 %
70%
60%
2019
50% 2020
40%
32.3 %
30%
25.0%
20%
13.5 %
11.3 % 11.3 %
10%
5.7 % 4.2 % 4.6 %
2.0 %
0
World
ay
en
ds
y
ce
m
a
da
es
an
in
do
w
at
n
an
ed
na
Ch
m
la
or
St
ng
Fr
Sw
Ca
r
er
N
he
d
Ki
G
te
et
d
i
N
Un
ite
Source: IEA.
Un
27RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
TECHNOLOGIES FOR A RENEWABLES REVOLUTION
POWER
What are the technology options?
Installed renewable power capacity grew by more than 256 GW during the
pandemic year 2020, the largest increase ever. Solar PV and wind power
made up more than 90% of this increase and are the main drivers towards
higher shares of renewables in the power sector. By the end of 2020,
34 countries had more than 10 GW of renewable power capacity in operation,
up from 20 countries in 2010.
Annual Additions of Renewable Power Capacity
by Technology and Total, 2014-2020
More than
256
Additions by technology (Gigawatts)
150
gigawatts added
in 2020
120
Solar PV
Wind power
90
Hydropower
Bio-power,
geothermal,
ocean power,
60
CSP
30
0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Note: Solar PV capacity data are provided in direct current (DC). Data are not comparable against technology contributions to electricity generation.
Source: REN21 analysis.
28Solar PV Capacity and Additions
Top 10 Countries for Capacity Added, 2020
Gigawatts
300
+48.2
250
100 +19.2
200 Added
80
+28.7 +8.2 in 2020
2019 total
150 60
+4.9
+4.4
100 40
+4.1
50 20 +11.1 +4.1
+3.1 +3.0
0
Rest China United Vietnam Japan Germany India Australia Republic Brazil Netherlands
of World States of Korea
Note: Data are provided in direct current (DC).
Source: REN21 analysis. Continuing a trend going
back to 2012, most of
thenewly installed
power capacity
Wind Power Capacity and Additions
Top 10 Countries for Capacity Added, 2020
in 2020 was
renewable.
Gigawatts
300 +52.0
250 80 Added in 2020
2019 total
200 +1.7
60
+10.8
150
+16.9 +1.1
40
100
+1.7
80
20 +2.3 +1.3
50
+2.0 +1.2
+1.5
0
In
Tu
Fr
N
G
Sp
N
Br
Un
Re
Ch
or
er
d
et
an
rk
az
a
ia
st
i
i
m
he
te
w
na
in
ey
ce
il
o
ay
an
d
rla
fW
St
y
n
at
or
ds
es
ld
Note: Numbers above bars are gross additions, but bar heights reflect year-end totals. Germany's net additions were slightly below those of Norway.
Source: REN21 analysis.
29RENEWABLES 2021 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
Global Levelised Costs of Electricity from Newly Commissioned Utility-scale
Renewable Power Generation Technologies, 2010 and 2020
2020 USD/kWh
0.4
95th percentile
0.381
0.3 Average cost
-85 % -68 % -54% -48 % 5th percentile
0.2
0.108
0.1
0.084
0.057
0.039
0
2010 2020 2010 2020 2010 2020 2010 2020
Source: IRENA.
Top 7 Countries with the Highest Electricity Access Rate from Distributed Renewable Energy Solutions
2019
Share of population...
Nepal 9.7%
...connected to
hydropower mini-grids
Rwanda 9.0%
...connected to
Mongolia 7.7% solar PV mini-grids
...using solar home systems
(>50 W)
Kenya 6.8%
...using solar home systems
(11-50 W)
Vanuatu 6.2%
Fiji 6.1%
Bangladesh 5.0%
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10%
Note: Data in figure include solar home systems (SHS) and mini-grids but exclude solar lights.
Source: REN21 analysis.
30The REN21 Secretariat has produced this document to highlight important trends in renewable energy that occurred in 2020 and to
put them in perspective of the global energy transition. It draws on elements from REN21’s Renewables 2021 Global Status Report.
Authoring: Thomas André, Duncan Gibb, Hannah E. Murdock (REN21)
GSR 2021 PRODUCTION AND AUTHORING TEAM
REN21 RESEARCH DIRECTION TEAM RESEARCH AND PROJECT SUPPORT
Hannah E. Murdock (REN21 SECRETARIAT)
Duncan Gibb Chetna Hareesh Kumar, Fabio Passaro
Thomas André Flávia Guerra, Ni Made Dwi Sastriani, Hend Yaqoob, Stefanie
Gicquel, Vibhushree Hamirwasia, Gwamaka Kifukwe, Yu
SPECIAL ADVISORS Yuan-Perrin
Janet L. Sawin (Sunna Research)
Adam Brown COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT
Lea Ranalder (REN21 SECRETARIAT)
Tammy Mayer, Laura E. Williamson
CHAPTER AUTHORS Andreas Budiman, Olivia Chen, Katherine Findlay, Alyssa Harris,
Thomas André (REN21) Jessica Jones-Langley, Florencia Urbani
Adam Brown
Ute Collier (Green Energy Insights) EDITING, DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Christopher Dent (Edge Hill University) Lisa Mastny, Editor
Bärbel Epp (Solrico) Leah Brumer, Editor
Duncan Gibb (REN21) weeks.de Werbeagentur GmbH, Design
Chetna Hareesh Kumar (REN21)
Fanny Joubert (EcoTraders) PRODUCTION
Ron Kamara (EcoTraders) REN21 Secretariat, Paris, France
Nathalie Ledanois
Rachele Levin
Hannah E. Murdock (REN21)
Janet L. Sawin (Sunna Research) REN21 is committed to
Jonathan Skeen (The SOLA Group) mobilising global action
Freyr Sverrisson (Sunna Research) to meet the United Nations
Glen Wright (Institute for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development
International Relations) Goals.
DISCLAIMER:
REN21 releases issue papers and reports to emphasise the importance of renewable energy
and to generate discussion on issues central to the promotion of renewable energy. While
REN21 papers and reports have benefited from the considerations and input from the REN21
community, they do not necessarily represent a consensus among network participants on any
given point. Although the information given in this report is the best available to the authors
at the time, REN21 and its participants cannot be held liable for its accuracy and correctness.
Photo Credits
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31KEY FINDINGS
2021
RENEWABLES 2021
GLOBAL STATUS REPORT
For further details and access to
the report and references, visit
www.ren21.net/GSR
See Endnotes and Methodological Notes
in the full GSR for further details on the
information presented in this document.
REN21 Secretariat
c/o UN Environment Programme
1 rue Miollis
2021
Building VII
75015 Paris
France
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