Renewable energy

• The share of renewables in the power mix could rise from 25% today to 40% or even 66% in 2040.
• In 2017, only 12.1% of global power came from clean sources (1.1% more than in 2016). Nevertheless, global investment in renewable energy reached almost $280 billion in 2017, with China accounting for 45% of the global total ($126.6 billion), followed by the United States ($40.5 billion). Out of the 157 GW of renewable energy commissioned in 2017 (up from 143 GW in 2016), 98 GW (over 60%) was from solar deployment (53 GW in China).
• Over 80% of world total primary energy supply (TPES) continues to be met by non-renewables - fossil energy sources such as oil (32%), coal (28%) and natural gas (21.6%), although renewables continue to grow faster.  
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• About 90% of green technologies originate in OECD countries, especially Japan, the United States, Germany, Korea and France.  | Related Megatrends: Climate and environment
• In the OECD countries, the share of renewables in TPES in 2016 versus 2015 increased in Europe - from 14% to 14.2% - and in the Americas - from 8.2 to 8.5%, while in Asia it decreased from 5% to 4.8%.
• Renewable energy sources have grown at a global annual average rate of 2% in the period 1990-2015, slightly higher than the 1.8% annual growth rate of the TPES, mainly run by solar PV at 45.5%, wind at 24%, biogases at 12.8%, solar thermal at 11.4%, and liquid biofuel at 10.1%. Renwable municipal waste, liquid biofuels, biogases, and solar, wind and tide have been growing the fastest over the past decade.  | Related Megatrends: Technology 
• Of the world's "new" renewables, in 2015, OECD countries accounted for 64%, China for 20%, non-OECD Americas for 9.4%, Asia (excluding China) for 5%, while Africa for only 0.4%.  | Related Megatrends: Technology; Consumerism; Inequality

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