The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is the world’s leading body for renewable energy policy and research. Founded in 2009, the agency works to support the implementation of renewable energy in countries around the world. IRENA produces a wide range of reports, including the annual IRENA Renewable Energy Report 2021 (RERA 2021). This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global renewable energy sector, as well as a range of policy recommendations for governments and businesses. In this article, we will take a look at the key findings from the 2021 report.
Key Findings
The 2021 report is the latest in a series of reports from IRENA on the state of renewable energy in the world. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the sector, highlighting key trends and developments. The key findings from the 2021 report include the following:
- The global renewable energy sector is growing rapidly, with investments in new capacity reaching a record high in 2020.
- Renewable energy sources now account for around 60% of total global electricity generation.
- Renewable energy is becoming increasingly cost-competitive with traditional energy sources, particularly in wind and solar power.
- The deployment of renewable energy technologies is being driven by policy support, technological advances, and falling costs.
- The renewable energy sector is creating jobs, with over 11 million new jobs created in the sector in 2020.
- The adoption of renewable energy technologies is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with renewable energy sources now accounting for one-fifth of global energy-related emissions.
- The shift to renewable energy is also helping to reduce air pollution, with a reduction in health impacts associated with air pollution.
Policy Recommendations
The report also provides a range of policy recommendations for governments and businesses. These include the following:
- Developing countries should focus on increasing access to renewable energy, in order to reduce poverty and improve economic development.
- Governments should provide stable and predictable policy support for renewable energy, in order to attract investment and encourage innovation.
- Governments should focus on removing existing barriers to the deployment of renewable energy, such as permitting and grid access issues.
- Governments should provide incentives for businesses to adopt renewable energy technologies, such as tax credits and subsidies.
- Governments should also focus on educating the public on the benefits of renewable energy, in order to increase public acceptance and support.
- Businesses should focus on investing in renewable energy technologies, in order to reduce their environmental impact and improve their bottom line.
- Businesses should also focus on educating their employees and customers on the benefits of renewable energy, in order to increase public acceptance and support.
Conclusion
The 2021 IRENA Renewable Energy Report provides a comprehensive overview of the global renewable energy sector. The report highlights the rapid growth of the sector, as well as the increasing cost-competitiveness of renewable energy sources. It also provides a range of policy recommendations for governments and businesses, in order to support the further deployment of renewable energy technologies. The report is a valuable resource for anyone looking to understand the state of the global renewable energy sector, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.