Global Status Report from the Renewable Energy Network Policy for the 21^st Century (REN21)

The Renewable Energy Network Policy for the 21^st Century (REN 21, an international multi-stakeholder organization promoting the "wise use of renewable energy worldwide") recently released its global renewable energy status report, "Renewables 2011". This yearly report tracks the global developments in renewable energy during the preceding year (2010), and provides an integrated perspective based on these developments.

The keyword associated with worldwide renewable energy developments in 2010 is: "continued growth". About 16% of the world's final energy consumption is said to be provided by renewable energy. In China, renewables are reported to account for "about 26% of the country's total installed electric capacity, 18% of generation, and more than 9% of final energy consumption in 2010". Emerging and developing economies have also been observed to have an increased share of "policies, investment, supply and use" of renewable energy.

In the Bioenergy/Biofuels sector, the report highlights the following" (1) about 2.7% of global transport fuels were powered by liquid biofuels in 2010, (2) The main players in biofuel ethanol are Brazil and the United States, accounting for 88% in global ethanol production; the United States has also overtaken Brazil as the leading ethanol exporter, (3) The European Union (EU) remained the "center of biodiesel production, but due to increased competition with relatively cheap imports, growth in the region continued to slow, (4) advanced biofuels industry continued to grow with the participation of a wide diversity of players. The "Renewables 2011" report also features a "Renewables Interactive Map" (URL below) which can be used as "a research tool for tracking the development of renewable energy worldwide". The full report can be downloaded at the REN21 website (URL above).

Related information: REN 21 renewables Interactive Map (tracks global developments in renewable energy) http://www.ren21.net/REN21Activities/InteractiveTools/RenewablesMap/tabid/5444/Default.aspx