Renewable energy continues to grow significantly worldwide

In the 2010 Global Renewable Energy Status Report released at the end of September this year, the 21st Century Renewable Energy Policy Network pointed out that despite the challenges brought by the global financial crisis, falling oil prices and slow progress in climate change policies, the world is renewable in 2009. Investment in energy generation continues to grow, and the importance of renewable energy is increasing.

 

Investment still maintains strong growth

The growth of investment in the renewable energy sector, such as the public sector, venture capital and development banks, has undoubtedly contributed to the development of the industry. Excluding the large hydropower project, the global investment in renewable energy in 2009 was about 150 billion US dollars, breaking the record of $130 billion in 2008. In 2009, global investment in wind energy reached US$62.7 billion, a significant increase from US$55.5 billion in 2008. Much of the increase in wind energy investment was caused by China's rapid expansion, coupled with increased investment activity in the Latin American wind power industry and the investment in large offshore wind farms in the UK.

 

Government increases policy support

The development of renewable energy is inseparable from policy support. In the 1980s and early 1990s, only a few countries in the world introduced some renewable energy incentive policies. However, in the new century, more countries and local governments have introduced relevant support policies, and many countries have set up renewable energy utilization countries. The goal is to require a considerable portion of electricity to come from renewable sources in 2020, which is between 10% and 50%. China's goal is to reduce energy consumption by 15% from renewable energy by 2020.

 

According to statistics, as of September 2010, at least 83 countries have introduced relevant policies to promote renewable energy generation. The 10 most common types of policies are access tariffs, renewable energy use standards, investment subsidies or grants, investment tax credits, sales tax or VAT concessions, green certificate transactions, direct energy production payments or tax credits, net measurement Direct public investment or financing and open competitive bidding.

 

There are also many countries that adopt policies to support the use of renewable heat energy. For example, some countries or their local governments have introduced the application guidelines for the promotion and application of solar water heaters for new buildings. *** is the country that sets the *** directive in this regard, Spain also In 2006, the national building code was adopted, requiring solar thermal systems in new construction and renovation to meet 30% to 70% of hot water demand.

 

In the transportation sector, many countries have introduced directives for the blending of biofuels into motor fuels, and several countries have proposed several targets and plans for future biofuel use. Countries with production or use targets include the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and South Africa. The EU's goal is to reach 10% of transportation energy by 2020, involving sustainable biofuels and electric vehicles.

 

Increased role of developing countries

In the promotion of renewable energy development, the role of developing countries is growing: China's market growth is ahead of the world; India's existing wind power capacity ranks fifth in the world, and is rapidly expanding various forms of rural renewable energy, Such as biogas and solar photovoltaic power generation; Brazil's sugar cane ethanol is leading the world, and is also adding new biomass and wind power facilities. In addition, renewable energy markets in Argentina, Costa Rica, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay are growing at a faster rate.

 

Renewable energy has now entered an era of geographical diversity. For example, wind power only existed in a few countries in the 1990s, and currently 82 countries around the world have carried out this business. In addition to Europe and the United States, developed countries such as Australia, Canada and Japan have seen significant growth in renewable energy and expanded technology diversification; renewable energy markets in more than 20 developing countries in the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Also very active.

 

At the same time, renewable energy-related manufacturing is shifting from Europe to Asia, such as China, India and South Korea. In 2009, Chinese companies produced 40% of the world's solar photovoltaic cells, wind turbines accounted for 30% of the world (only 10% in 2007), and solar water heaters accounted for 77% of the world.