The Renewable Energy Statistics 2024 released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that despite renewables becoming the fastest growing source of power, the world risks missing the tripling renewables target pledged at COP28. To stay the course, the world will now have to grow renewables capacity at a minimum 16.4 per cent rate annually through 2030.

The unprecedented 14 per cent increase of renewables capacity during 2023 established a 10 per cent compound annual growth rate (2017-2023). Combined with the constant decreasing additions of non-renewable capacity over the years, the trend sees renewable energy on its way to overtake fossil fuels in global installed power capacity.

However, if last year’s 14 per cent increase rate continues, the tripling target of 11.2TW in 2030 outlined by IRENA’s 1.5C scenario will fall 1.5TW short, missing the target by 13.5 per cent. Furthermore, if the world keeps the historic annual growth rate of 10 per cent, it will only accumulate 7.5TW of renewables capacity by 2030, missing the target by almost one-third.

IRENA director general, Francesco La Camera said, “Renewable energy has been increasingly outperforming fossil fuels, but it is not the time to be complacent. Renewables must grow at higher speed and scale. Our new report sheds light on the direction of travel; if we continue with the current growth rate, we will only face failure in reaching the tripling renewables target agreed in the UAE Consensus at COP28, consequently risking the goals of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

It must be remembered that these figures are collective, and that different regions have different speeds of adoption, potentially creating both inequalities as well as opportunities.

The latest data available for 2022 confirmed regional disparity, with Asia holds its position as leader in the global renewable power generation, followed for the first time by North America, and an impressive jump in South America.

But Africa, with a modest growth of 3.5 per cent, falls far shoer of its. Acknowledging the urgent need for support and finance, IRENA is advancing the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) initiative and is preparing an investment forum focused on APRA’s member countries later this year.

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