Renewable energy shows strongest
growth in global electric generating capacity
Sept. 28, 2011 - eia.gov
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's
International
Energy Outlook 2011 (IEO2011) projects
that the amount of global hydroelectric and other
renewable electric generating capacity will rise
2.7% per year through 2035, more than any other
electricity generating source (see chart above).
The IEO2011 also projects that China and India
will
lead the way in adding hydroelectric and renewable
electric generating capacity.
Among renewables, installed hydroelectric power
capacity is expected to increase more than other
renewable sources between 2008 and 2035. However,
installed solar power capacity sees the largest
growth rate over the projection period, expanding
8.3% per year, based on EIA's IEO2011 released
on September 19, followed by 5.7% for wind, 3.7%
for geothermal, 2.0% for hydropower, and 1.4% for
other renewables such as wood waste, landfill gas,
and agricultural byproducts.
Long-term annual growth rates for global installed
generating capacity are 2.0% for nuclear, 1.6%
for natural gas-fired power plants, and 1.3% for
coal, according to the IEO2011. The report estimates
installed capacity of power plants running on petroleum
products will fall by 1.0% a year, as higher oil
costs and climate change concerns encourage a switch
to cheaper and cleaner generating fuels.
The IEO2011 did not reflect changes in the nuclear
policies of some countries following damage to
Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant this
past spring.
In addition to having the highest annual growth
rate, renewable energy sources are expected to
account for the biggest share of total installed
electric generating capacity by 2035, nearly a
third at 2,372 gigawatts. Renewables are also the
fastest growing energy source for actual electricity
production, increasing 3.1% per year.
However, because renewable generators have average
utilization rates well below those for other types
of capacity, the level of renewable generation
is expected to remain below that of coal, the dominant
generation source, and other fuels.
