IRENA Report: Renewables Could Exceed 30% of Energy Supply by 2030

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Renewable energy's share in the total global energy supply could reach and exceed 30% by 2030 at no extra cost, according to the "Remap 30" report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

"There is a strong economic case for the renewable energy transition," said Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA's director general, at the World Clean Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. "When considering climate-change mitigation, health impact and job creation, the transition practically pays for itself. More renewables in the energy system provides greater flexibility, increases energy independence and makes the system more resilient."

The study shows that the deployment of modern renewables, excluding the traditional use of biomass, needs to grow more than threefold. A rethinking of energy taxes and subsidies is critical to the economic case for renewable energy. A reduction of fossil-fuel subsidies will facilitate the uptake of renewables. Subsidies for renewable energy can disappear altogether, if greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollutants are reasonably priced, IRENA argues.

"Many governments are underestimating the potential of renewables in their planning for energy transition," said Dolf Gielen, director of IRENA's innovation and technology center in Bonn, Germany. "To reach the goal of doubling the share of renewable energy by 2030, additional efforts are needed, particularly in the building industry and transport sectors. We identified five areas of national action: planning realistic but ambitious transition pathways; creating an enabling business environment; managing knowledge of technology options and their deployment; ensuring smooth integration of renewables into the existing infrastructure; and unleashing innovation."

The analysis of the energy supply and demand of 26 countries, which account for 74% of projected final energy consumption in 2030, is the basis for the report. IRENA is mandated as the global hub for renewable energy cooperation and information exchange by 124 members (123 states and the European Union).

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