The combination of market forces and changing public sensibilities are driving a major shift in the energy landscape. The need for renewable energy to combat climate change is incontrovertible, while a plethora of warnings tell us that we are rapidly exhausting our carbon budgets. Ending fossil fuels is a mathematical imperative if we are to have a chance of keeping temperatures from rising above the upper threshold limit of 1.5 - 2.0 C.
Evidence for the demise of the fossil fuel industry is evident in Canada where the Teck mine, the largest tarsands mine ever proposed, has become the latest casualty of changing market dynamics and public attitudes. The disdain for dirty energy is also being felt in Australia where people are rejecting the coal powered agenda of Scott Morrison. The polls show that people want climate action and this means we must end fossil fuels. Public attitudes are increasingly distrustful of the fossil fuel industry's anti-climate agenda.
Countries like Sweden, Norway and Ireland are transitioning to renewables. Even MENA countries are showing clean energy leadership. However, in many parts of the world government policies are an impediment to the transition to clean energy. However, despite headwinds from climate denying leaderships, the solar and wind industries continued to thrive in 2019
This event will take place on December 13-15, 2016 in Orlando Florida at the Orange County Convention Center (North and South Halls). Renewable Energy World International tracks are designed to be made horizontally applicable across all technology sectors. Hear from our track champions on what is being covered during these impactful conference sessions.
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Make connections with 20,000 other renewable energy professionals from around the globe. Learn from each other during multiple networking events. Expand Your Knowledge
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This event will take place from December 13 to December 15, 2016 in Orlando Florida. This BIG PICTURE' conference, will cover the full landscape of renewables. Attendees will hear from several Renewable Energy World International Committee Members about what HOT industry topics are being covered in this years conference. Become An Exhibiting Company Showcase Your Brand. Get Results.
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Investors are waking up to the opportunities afforded by the low carbon economy. The benefits of emissions reduction extend far beyond averting a climate catastrophe. Decreasing our GHG emissions will help create jobs, alleviate poverty, improve public health and even provide greater food security.
The math supports climate action and the economics are becoming harder to refute. Market forces are driving a steady flow of capital and investors are finding it impossible to ignore the return potential of low carbon technologies. We have never confronted such a portentous and daunting challenge as the climate crisis, nor have we ever seen such a stellar opportunity. This is a unique investment that offers phenomenal returns, while fostering socio-economic growth.
The case for a low carbon economy is getting stronger and concerns that it will bankrupt the economy are proving to be false. Early in 2016 IRENA indicated that doubling the amount of clean energy by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, will increase GDP by $1.3 trillion.
As explained in the background of a EurActiv.com article, the amount of money that needs to be invested to cut emissions to sustainable levels is estimated at between 500 ($568) and 1,500 ($1,705) billion euros per year.
Nations like the US are poised to formally ratify the emissions reduction pledges they made at COP21. Most of the world's leading emitters have already announced plans to massively increase their renewable energy capacities. These commitments are expected to grow over time.
At the beginning of the year, Mindy Lubber and Christiana Figueres wrote,
"The winds of change from Paris are already shifting policy and financial flows towards ever cleaner and renewable energies and sustainable infrastructure."
The size of the opportunity is enormous. US Secretary of State John Kerry said that climate change presents an opportunity that could far surpass the tech boom of the 1990s. The climate crisis is, "a multitrillion-dollar market with billions of users worldwide." Kerry said. "[C]lean energy is one of the greatest economic opportunities the world has ever seen...There are opportunities literally everywhere you look."
Research from the New Climate Economy corroborates Kerry's claim and finds that low carbon investing in cities alone could generate savings of between $17 and 22 trillion by 2050. For example, New York City has reduced its GHG emissions by 19 percent since 2005, and it plans to reduce emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Clean energy has grown six fold in the last decade and in 2015 we saw big changes in the energy sector. A record 330 billion was invested in new clean energy initiatives. According to Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016, since 2004, the world has invested $2.3 trillion in renewable energy. This will only grow reaching an astounding $68 trillion in energy investments by 2040. The IEA says that we will need $90 trillion of new energy investment by 2030.
As explained by Lubber and Figueres:
"The actions needed are legion, but so too are the rewards for investors and companies who make the shift early and embed the transition rapidly."
Europe has the highest concentration of national sustainability efforts in the world. In 2015 Nordic countries once again assumed a leadership role along with France. In addition to being an economic giant Germany is also an environmental titan. Germany is ranked fourth in the Global Green Economy Index.and seventh in a RobecoSAM study. Germany has distinguished itself as an early adopter of clean power and it has a secure place in history as a renewable energy pioneer. The country has passed legislation in support of renewable energy and it is producing results. In 2015 Germany set solar power records and surpassed some major renewable energy milestones that are the envy of governments around the world.
German efforts extend beyond renewable energy and encompass green building. Germany was ranked number 6 in the world by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2014.
The German government led by Angela Merkel has joined other major powers in endorsing ambitious climate objectives. This includes a statement calls for, "deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions," and "decarbonisation of the global economy over the course of this century."
Germany is not a newcomer to climate action and Merkel has been at the forefront of this movement for two decades. In 1996 Merkel was a German representative in the European Council of environment ministers that were the first political body to declare the goal of keeping temperatures below 2C was the goal.
Germany is a world leading renewable energy power getting as much of three quarters of its daily demand from clean sources. On July 25, 2015, Germany obtained 78 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
Year after year German production of renewable energy has increased. In 2015 Germany generated 193 billion kilowatt hours (billion kWh), or one third of its energy from renewable sources up one fifth from the year before.
Cleantech not only reduces the countries emissions it is providing jobs. Nearly 800,000 jobs people work in the cleantech sector and 214,000 people work in renewables in Germany.
The German government has supported the growth of renewable energy and managed to radically reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. As part of a policy called "energiewende" (energy transition) policies Germany is embarking on complete de-fossilization. Germany is already on the cusp of getting 34 percent of its energy from renewables a target it had set to achieve by 2020. The country expects to get 100 percent of its electricity requirements from renewables by 2050.
Cities across Germany are ramping up their renewable energy capacity. The small German town of Feldheim gets all of its electricity from renewables and Munich, Germany's third largest city is working to get all of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. The city of Frankfurt has pledged to have zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Frankfurt 's comprehensive energy management scheme has decoupled growth from emissions. The city has reduced its emissions by 15 percent since 1990 and grew its economy by 50 percent. The nation as a whole has also succeeded in decoupling economic growth and emissions. Germany's GDP has grown while their GHGs have fallen.
German cities also support for car free zones and green spaces. There German city of Hamburg has what may be the most climate friendly motto's in the world: “Understanding climate change — reducing climate change — master the effects of climate change.”
In 2015, Hamburg announced plans to eliminate fossil fuel powered cars in the next couple of decades and cover a two-mile section of the Autobahn with greenspaces. These "roof-parks" will cover 60 acres and have forests, gardens, and trails.
Germany's support for renewable energy also extends to other countries. In 2015 the nation gave India a 125 billion Euro loan for green energy projects. The Indo-German partnership is designed to fund transmission infrastructure of renewable energy projects. The German loans will fund green energy projects in Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Germany is a model for the world that is a real world refutation of some of the criticism leveled against renewables. The fossil fuel lobby frequently point to the problem of intermittancy of renewables (eg the sun is not always shining and the wind is not always blowing). However, as pointed out in a Bloomberg article, Germany proves that intermittancy can be overcome.
In this short film, Germany Trade & Invest focus on Germany’s Renewable Energy Revolution. Scientists, industry leaders, and politicians review the country's achievements, next steps, and the opportunities the energy transition offers.
Scotland derived half of its electricity needs from renewables last year. Renewable energy, once dismissed as a pipe dream by some, is becoming a reality for many nations including Denmark and Germany. According to data released by the Scottish government in June, Scotland generated 49.8 percent of all of its electricity needs from renewable sources in 2014.
The Scottish government has met its target of meeting 50 percent of electricity demand with renewables one year ahead of schedule. Scotland is now setting its sights on the goal of meeting all of its electricity demand with renewables by 2020. Scotland increased its renewable energy generating capacity by 5.4 percent over 2013. This growth continues into 2015 with first quarter results showing 4.3 percent growth compared to the first quarter of 2014.
Wind power, both onshore and offshore, is responsible for the majority of Scottish renewable energy producing a total of 4,452 GWh, which is enough to power one million homes in the UK for one whole year. In 2014 Scotland generated 19,000 GWh from renewables which is almost one third (30%) of all renewable energy produced in the UK.
Thanks in large part to Scotland, the UK is ahead of schedule to meet its 15 percent clean energy commitment by 2020. Led by wind energy, the UK generated 64,654 GWh of power from renewable sources in 2014. This is a 21 percent increase over 2013.
Wind energy is responsible for half of Scotland's renewable energy mix, hydro generates one third and far a smaller share ( 137.9 GWh) is generated by solar.
Although wind energy enjoys popular support in the UK, British Prime Minister David Cameron paradoxically won reelection on a policy that promises to end renewable energy subsidies. Since being reelected he has stated his intention to end subsidies for onshore wind next April. If he follows through this will have a cooling effect on the growth of renewables in Scotland and the UK as a whole. An end to subsidies could endanger almost $5 billion of onshore wind projects and over 5,000 jobs.
Germany, Denmark and the US are clean energy leaders that are proving that renewables can meet the electricity needs of modern nations. In Germany and Denmark they are producing so much power from renewables that they are exporting clean energy. In the US renewables continue to grow accounting for the vast majority of new energy production in the first half of 2015. Germany
Germany is both a clean energy and an economic leader that broke a number of records in 2014. For a period in May of last year renewable energy supplied almost three quarters of the nation's overall electricity needs. In the first quarter of 2014 more than one quarter (27%) of Germany's electricity demand was being met by renewables. In 2014 Germany increased its renewable energy generation by 5 billion kilowatt hours compared to the same period in 2013 (40.2 billion vs 35.7 billion kilowatt-hours).
Renewable energy generated 32.5 percent of Germany's electricity in the first half of 2015. Most of the increased capacity came from new wind generation. That is an increase in overall renewable energy electricity production compared to the same January to June period last year.
Germany has been an energy exporter since 2003. Its principal customer has been the Netherlands, followed by Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. Germany has set exporting records in 2012, 2013 and 2014. It exported 18 TWh during the first half of 2014, as compared to 14.5 TWh during the same period in 2013.
As part of its Energiewende (energy transformation) program Germany seeks to be almost entirely powered by renewable sources by 2050. Although there are some concerns about Germany's ability to meet its 2020 European target.
Denmark
At the end of last summer Denmark has passed a world leading climate change bill. In July Denmark's windfarms produced more energy than the nation could use. In addition to meeting their own domestic electricity demand they export additional supply to Norway, Germany and Sweden. After producing 16 percent more power than they needed on Thursday July 9th, they produced 40 percent more power than the country needed on Friday July 10th as demand dropped in the early morning hours.
These peaks were not close to Denmark's 4.8GW capacity and more capacity will be coming online soon with an additional 1.5GW coming from new offshore windfarms. Overall, thanks to strong government support, there has been an 18 percent year over year growth in wind energy in Denmark.
Denmark could be producing half of its electricity from renewable sources well before a target date of 2020.
United States
The US also posted a milestone of its own between January and June 2015. Renewable energy which includes wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and bioimass, was responsible for almost 70 percent of the new electrical generation in the first half of 2015.
As reviewed in the July "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) office of energy projects, in the first half of 2015 there was an additional 1,996 MW of new wind generating capacity, 549 MW of solar, 45 MW of geothermal and 21 MW of hydro.
New capacity from renewables in the first half of 2015 is 904 times greater than that from coal and more than double natural gas. In June alone wind contributed 320 MW, biomass 95 MW and solar 62 MW.
As a whole renewable energy now accounts for more than 17 percent of total installed operating generating capacity in the US (hydro 8.61%, wind 5.84%, biomass 1.40%, solar 1.08% and geothermal 0.34%). Renewable energy now generates more power than nuclear (9.20%) and oil (3.87%) combined.
The growth of renewables is lending credence to those who believe we can get all (or most) of our energy from clean sources.
As explained by Oliver Joy, a spokesman for trade body the European Wind Energy Association, "It shows that a world powered 100% by renewable energy is no fantasy.”
