Germany 2nd (after China) in New Renewable Capacity Added in 2010

[kristopher]

Germany 2nd in New Renewable Capacity Added in 2010
Published on July 14, 2011

The Renewable Global Status Report 2011 published by the renewable energy policy network REN21 confirms the ongoing worldwide trend towards renewable energy sources and highlights Germany’s top position as one of the most active proponents of renewable energy.

Among the top five countries with respect to annual additions of renewable capacity in 2010 Germany ranks second after China.

Total global investment in renewable energy broke a new record in 2010, the report found. Investment in renewable power and fuels reached $211 billion, up 32% from $160 billion the previous year. Renewable energy, which experienced no downturn in 2009, continued to grow strongly in all end-use sectors – power, heat and transport – and supplied an estimated 16% of global final energy consumption, the report says. It accounted for approximately half of the estimated 194 GW of new electric capacity added globally during the year. Renewables delivered close to 20% of global electricity supply, and by early 2011, they comprised one-quarter of global power capacity from all sources.

Wind power added the most new capacity globally, followed by hydropower and solar PV. For the first time, however, Europe added more PV than wind capacity during 2010, led by Germany and Italy. Germany added more PV (7.4 GW) in 2010 than the entire world did the previous year, ending 2010 with 17.3 GW of existing capacity. This trend, however, abated in early 2011 following feed-in tariff reductions.

REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) convenes...

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