National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the 2020s and beyond. A few countries generate all their electricity using renewable energy. Many nations around the world already have renewable energy contributing more than 20% of their total energy supply, with some generating over half their electricity from renewables. In most countries, photovoltaic solar or onshore wind are the cheapest new-build electricity. Renewable energy systems are rapidly becoming more efficient and cheaper and their share of total energy consumption is increasing, with a large majority of worldwide newly installed electricity capacity being renewable. Globally there are over 10 million jobs associated with the renewable energy industries, with solar photovoltaics being the largest renewable employer. In 2021, China accounted for almost half of the global increase in renewable electricity. There are 3,146 gigawatts installed in 135 countries, while 156 countries have laws regulating the renewable energy sector. Biomass and geothermal energy grew from 2% to 3%. The share of hydropower decreased from 16% to 15% while power from sun and wind increased from 2% to 10%. Use of fossil energy shrank from 68% to 62%, and nuclear from 12% to 10%.

įrom 2011 to 2021, renewable energy grew from 20% to 28% of global electricity supply. Renewable energy is often deployed together with further electrification, which has several benefits: electricity can move heat or objects efficiently, and is clean at the point of consumption. Renewable energy projects are typically large-scale, but they are also suited to rural and remote areas and developing countries, where energy is often crucial in human development. Renewable energy is often used for electricity generation, heating and cooling. For example, some biomass sources are considered unsustainable at current rates of exploitation. Although most renewable energy sources are sustainable, some are not. Renewable resources include sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat.

Renewable energy is energy from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. (Note that capacity is distinguished from actual energy production or consumption.) Renewable energy sources, especially solar photovoltaic and wind power, are providing an increasing share of power capacity. For the journal, see Renewable Energy (journal).

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