Global renewable energy generation capacity increased by 161 gigawatts (GW) in 2016, making the strongest year ever for new capacity additions, according to data released IRENA. Renewable Energy Capacity Statistics 2017, estimates that by the end of last year the world renewable generation capacity reached 2,006 GW, with solar energy showing particularly strong growth.
IRENA new data shows that 2016 additions grew the world renewable energy capacity by 8.7%, with a record 71 GW of new solar energy leading the growth. 2016 marked the first time since 2013 that solar growth outpaced wind energy, which increased by 51 GW, while hydropower and bioenergy capacities increased 30 GW and 9 GW respectively, the best ever year for growth in bioenergy capacity. Geothermal energy capacity increased by just under 1 GW.
Asia accounted for 58% of new renewable additions in 2016, according to the data, giving it a total of 812 GW or roughly 41% of the global capacity. Asia was also the fastest growing region, with a 13.1% increase in renewable capacity. Africa installed 4.1 GW of new capacity in 2016, twice as much as 2015.
Hydropower In 2016, about half of new hydro capacity was installed in Brazil and China (14.6 GW in total). Other countries with major hydro expansion (over 1 GW) included
Canada, Ecuador, Ethiopia and India.
Wind energy Almost 75% of new wind energy capacity was installed last year in just four countries .. China (+19 GW) USA (+9 GW) Germany (+5 GW) and India (+4 GW). Brazil continued to show strong growth, with an increase of 2 GW in 2016.
Bioenergy The majority of bioenergy capacity expansion occurred in Asia last year (+5.9 GW) and Asia is fast approaching Europe in terms of its share of global bioenergy capacity (32% compared to 34% in Europe). Europe (+1.3 GW) and South America (+0.9 GW) were the other two regions where bioenergy capacity expanded significantly.
Solar energy Asia saw the most growth in solar capacity last year.
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