Dave Elliott: The headline figure in REN21’s 2018 review of the global status of renewable energy is that, in 2017, renewables supplied 26.5% of global electricity, which coincidentally was about the same as for the UK. The UK has now moved up to around 30% and that may well be true globally too. Certainly, REN 21 says that renewables’ share of final energy consumption has continued to grow globally, at around 5.4% averaged over the last 10 years for modern renewables, more for some technologies. By contrast, over that period, fossil and nuclear only grew by 1.6% and energy demand by 1.7%. However, while progress was good for electricity, REN 21 says “the power sector on its own will not deliver the emissions reductions demanded by the Paris climate agreement…to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The heating and cooling and transport sectors, which together account for about 80% of global total final energy demand, are lagging behind”. Rana Adib, executive secretary of REN21 said: “We may be racing down the pathway towards a 100% renewable electricity future, but when it comes to heating, cooling and transport, we are coasting along as if we had all the time in the world. Sadly, we don’t.” REN21 said of particular concern was that global energy demand and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose for the first time in four years in 2017, by 2.1% and 1.4% respectively.
Physics World 10th July 2018 read more »
Almost three-quarters of UK consumers would rather buy products from companies that use renewable power than from those which do not, according to a new survey carried out on behalf of Danish energy firm Ørsted. The poll of 500 men and women in the UK found 73 per cent would choose to buy a wide range of goods, such as food, drink, clothing, electronics, and beauty products, from retailers that use renewable energy over those which do not.
Business Green 13th July 2018 read more »
