The latest statistics offered by energy divisions all over the world gives uplifting trends of renewable energy development and indicates how many countries are already embracing cleaner sources of energy. As of now, there are seven countries that produce almost all the power consumed within their bounds using renewable energy sources creating a paradigm shift on how the world views energy. Analysts believe that this shift has already reached a point of no return, which will happen sooner than later, flat lining the use of hydrocarbons.
Super express: 99.7% increase in energy from renewable sources in seven countries
Seven nations have achieved a stunning milestone by producing the 99.7% of their energy from various renewable sources. Hydro, solar wind, or geothermal energy has been utilized to good effect in Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, and Paraguay, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
These countries are more than promoting some theoretical aspects of renewable energy. They have set a target that all other nations should beat. Their achievement proves that it is possible to stop using fossil fuels. The other countries are likely to do the same as the technology for generation of renewable energy improves.
The global renewable energy industry is in an upsurge, and these countries’ performances are a representation of a wider picture. Due to more awareness on the adoption of ‘cleaner’ energy systems, more and more nations are turning also to green energy, which is a clear indication of the ongoing global fight against the use of fossil fuels.
Interestingly, the last figures from IEA and IRENA indicate that 40 more countries, including 11 countries from Europe, were able to produce at least half of their electricity from renewable sources in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Mark Jacobson: Modern solutions can deliver 100% clean energy
Mark Jacobson, a professor at Stanford, an expert in the study of clean energy sources has stressed that it is not necessary to invent new technologies to achieve 100% clean energy. It is rather the expansion of the current technologies, such as Wind, Water and Sun (WWS), which entail land-based wind agriculture, solar panels, geothermal energy and water dams.
As indicated by Jacobson’s work, countries even such as Germany can switch off fossil fuels for the entire span of some hours and run on renewables only, thus providing more evidence that future powered by renewables is possible.
The situation in the UK is also improving considerably. Towards the end of 2022, renewable energy accounted for 41.5% of the electricity generated in the country, which is 10.5% higher than the figure in the previous year. Scotland outdid itself when it recorded 113% of what it consumed in electricity from renewable sources.
A good amount of this electricity generation however came from wind, demonstrating Scotland’s promise to become the hub of clean energy. Such achievements are worth noting as they show that renewable power is not a dream but a practical possibility for so many countries.
Research reveals that solar energy will top all other energy sources by 2050
According to a study conducted by the University of Exeter and University College London, by the year 2050 solar power shall dominate most of the energy sources across the globe. This is attributed to improvements in the efficiency of solar cells utilizing new generation materials such as perovskite and the decreasing installation costs.
Published in Nature Communications, the article mentions that solar energy has already reached an ‘irreversible tipping point’ making it logical and urgent for one to pursue the clean energy transition. Renewable energy adoption is increasing all over the globe, and as this trend continues the world is bound to move away from fossil fuels.
Solar technology maturity and infusion of funds into the sector proves that the generation of electricity. Clean or rather renewable energy sources will come to dominate the generation of electricity in the world. History is made every day, and everything shapes the world and its people in some way or the other. They have finally come to the point of no return.
