Renewables account for 28 percent of global electricity

Last year, 28 percent of electricity around the globe was generated from renewable energy sources, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s International Energy Outlook 2019.

The report found that of that 28 percent of renewable energy, 96 percent was produced from hydropower, wind, and solar technologies. EIA projects that by 2050, 49 percent of global electricity generation will be from renewables. EIA expects the share of solar to grow the fastest and the share of hydroelectric to grow the slowest.

China will see the most growth in solar generation due to its favorable government policies and competitive technology costs, EIA said. Solar is also strong in India, Europe, and the United States.

India, China, and Europe remain leaders in wind generation. Capital costs for developing wind are typically higher than solar technologies. However, EIA says wind technology adoption has significant growth potential.

In 2018, hydroelectricity was the predominant global renewable electricity generation source, but EIA expects relatively little growth in hydroelectric generation through 2050. Hydroelectricity plants are not being built as rapidly as wind and solar because construction is relatively expensive. The regions that will have the most significant growth in hydroelectric generation in 2050 are China, Brazil, and Europe.