Renewable energy target in doubt
2013-01-14 17:53
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Abu Dhabi - The International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) on Monday launched a new global roadmap to double clean energy by 2030 but said the process must be accelerated substantially to achieve the target.
The launch of Remap came at the end of a two-day general assembly meeting in Abu Dhabi, headquarters of Irena.
"International efforts to double the share of renewable energy by 2030 are attainable but need to accelerate substantially if they are to be successful," Irena said while launching Remap.
The target aims to raise the share of clean renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass to around 30% of global energy mix from around 16% currently.
"Based on estimates, by 2030, the renewable energy share will rise to just 21%, thus we will have a nine-percent gap," Adnan Amin, Irena Director General told the closing session of the meeting.
"Remao 2030 clearly maps the challenge we face in meeting international targets to double the share of renewable energy worldwide," Amin said.
"The good news is that the costs are falling, the technology is spreading, and countries across the world are implementing policies to make this happen," he said.
"With the right political will, a world powered by clean, renewable energy is within our reach."
Expansion rate growing
Initial results show that investment in power generation, grid expansions, sustainable biomass and the use of renewable energy to generate heat needs to accelerate substantially to meet targets, Irena said.
"Global renewable power generation will have to exceed annual expansion rates of more than 150GW, compared to around 110GW in 2011," it said.
At the start of its meeting, Irena on Sunday launched the world's first atlas on clean energy which will offer open-access information on countries' renewable energy potential.
The atlas will also help companies looking to invest in new markets.
Established in 2011, Abu Dhabi-based Irena is mandated by 159 countries and the European Union to promote the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy.
Its meeting comes as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week which includes the Future Energy Summit, the International Water Summit and the International Renewable Energy Conference.
