How has renewable energy grown globally in the last decade?
Renewable energy comes from energy sources that are derived naturally and replenished at a higher rate than they are used. Solar and wind power are good examples of things that have become increasingly popular. As these energy sources replenish faster than they are consumed, they are seen as more sustainable, greener ways of generating the energy/power we need. This is on both a personal level at home and in the wider business world.
At one time, renewable energy was not a hot topic and not one of the sectors that made global headlines. However, this has changed in the last 10 years and seen it become a lot more popular. It’s estimated, for example, that 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity will be added globally between 2024 and 2030, which would be around three times the increase between 2017 and 2023!
But what has driven this shift on a global scale?
Greater recognition through philanthropists
One key factor behind the global growth of renewable energy in recent years has been the tireless work of philanthropists to highlight its importance. Rofino Licuco illustrates this perfectly. Licuco is an African-based philanthropist whose current project involves solar/wind energy development. By focusing on this, he’s helping to pay more attention to the topic and show people why using renewable energy is essential.
Of course, there are other philanthropists involved in similar work all across the planet. The greater media attention that these people can bring to the topic is important and has enabled the subject to connect with the public in larger numbers over time.
More renewable energy in diverse sectors
It’s not just pioneering individuals who have allowed green energy to grow in the last decade. The broader business world has done its bit and this sees many sectors now work in a greener way by using renewable energy sources.
The property sector is a good example and one that is worth digging into a little. Many developers, for example, will now build properties with solar panels to generate electricity or alternative ways to heat properties that do not rely on fossil fuels. Also, many homeowners now use renewable energy as a way to add value to a property.
It’s not just the property sector that is using renewables more in its workflow. The global agriculture industry has also got on board with more sustainable energy sources. This includes solar panels in fields to generate electricity and biogas to provide heat. The global automotive sector is another good example to look at and has started to focus on producing EVs that can be powered via renewable sources.
This attention to operating in way that not only embraces renewable energy but also promotes it has allowed businesses in diverse sectors to popularize it.
Focus on climate change globally
Perhaps the biggest reason why renewable energy has grown massively over recent years is the greater public awareness about climate change. A lot more people not only know about climate change globally now, but also understand that it is a major problem. The recent Los Angeles wildfires, for example, show how rising temperatures around the world can have a deadly impact in real life.
As more people begin to see the real-world effects that climate change is driving in their own communities, they start to become more engaged with tackling it. Making the decision to use more renewable energy sources is one of the simplest ways to do this and something that more people have become keen to learn about in the last decade. The net result of this is more people talking about greener energy and more people starting to use it worldwide.
What’s next for renewable energy globally?
While the above sums up why this subject has grown at such a rate in recent times, it’s interesting to think where renewable energy might head in the years to come.
It seems sensible to predict that it will continue to catch the public’s attention, and this should see more people opt to use greener energy in their homes/businesses. Due to this, the green energy sector should expand even more and companies within it will also feel the benefit.
As with everything in modern life, constant innovation and cutting-edge breakthroughs should push green energy to new heights moving forward. This looks likely to include everything from bladeless wind turbines to carbon capture tech, smart grid systems, green hydrogen production and more!
The future is bright for renewable energy
There’s no doubt that renewable energy has grown hugely in recent years and has become something that the vast majority of people not only know about but also care about. This has been a major shift, as the subject of renewable energy did not get as much mainstream attention as before.
With people worldwide now understanding what this sort of energy is and why it’s important to focus on, it should become even more popular worldwide moving forward.
