Renewable electricity, specifically wind power and solar photovoltaic (PV), has become the most economical sources of electricity in many parts of the world.

A rapid and fundamental shift is required in transport to enable the decarbonisation required to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement, with actors in both the energy and transport sectors working together. To that end, REN21 teamed up with the FIA Foundation to do an in-depth study: Renewable Energy Pathways in Road Transport.

GSR2020 provides a comprehensive overview of global developments in renewable energy markets, investments and policies in 2019. This year’s report includes a feature chapter on citizen support for renewable energy projects.

Cities have a unique role to play in accelerating the sustainable energy transition. Crisscrossed with transport systems and home to a variety of energy-intensive end-use sectors like heating and cooling, cities are a prime playing field to transition to sustainable energy.

Global investment in renewable energy hit USD 288.9 billion in 2018, with the amount spent on new capacity far exceeding the financial backing for new fossil fuel power, according to new figures published. These numbers, produced by BloombergNEF (BNEF), are being published as part of REN21’s Renewables 2019 Global Status Report.

The 18 countries covered in this report are fundamental to the clean energy transition. They account for 52% of the world’s population, represent 88% of the people living in the Asia Pacific region and account for 39% of the global primary energy supply.

Cities are key players in the renewable energy transition. The Preliminary Findings of the Renewables in Cities Global Status Report illustrates how cities are using renewable energy in the electricity, heating and cooling and transport sectors.

CO2 emissions from transport are still rising. If immediate action is not taken, more radical measures will be unavoidable in the future. This is the top line conclusion from the newly released joint report by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), REN21 and the Berlin-based think-tank Agora Verkehrswende.

By mid-2018, the SADC region had 21,760 MW of installed renewable energy capacity with another 17,361 MW of renewables capacity reaching financial closure and awaiting commissioning.

This year’s Renewables 2018 Global Status Report GSR reveals two realities: one in which a revolution in the power sector is driving rapid change towards a renewable energy future, and another in which the overall transition is not advancing with the speed needed.