Decentralized Renewables See Global Growth Says Report

On-site renewables for power, heating and cooling are seeing rapid expansion around the world, according to a report released this week.

Renewable energy policy group REN21’s Renewables 2016 Global Status Report, which summed up the year in renewables for 2015, found that both developed and developing countries saw significant growth in decentralized renewable power in the residential and industrial sectors.

Bangladesh emerged as the world’s largest market for home solar systems, and other developing countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, China, India, Nepal, Brazil and Guyana saw rapid growth in small-scale renewable systems, including renewables-based mini-grids, providing power for off-grid communities. Several thousand renewables-based mini-grids were in operation, with primary markets in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Mali and Morocco.

Cities and municipalities, especially in Europe and North America but also elsewhere, continued to emerge as global leaders in renewable district heating, with Amsterdam and Graz mentioned as notable examples. While renewable heating for buildings and industry grew by just 3% in 2015, biomass district heating in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe grew significantly.

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Source: Decentralized Energy

REN 21 Renewables 2016 Global Status Report