--- title: "Renewable energy trend in world" subject: "Energy Environment and Society" chapter: 2 key: "semester_7/energy_environment_and_society:renewable-energy-trend-world" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/renewable-energy-trend-world site: BCT Engineering --- # Renewable energy trend in world Energy Environment and Society · Chapter 2: Energy Basics - Asked in: year not given - Video: [How cheap renewable energy is finally flattening emissions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8JFCJP70rg) — Science Magazine - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/renewable-energy-trend-world - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/chapter-2 ## Question Describe the renewable energy trend in the world. ## Short answer Renewables supply about 30% of world electricity and 15-20% of final energy; solar and wind now add the most new capacity. Costs have fallen sharply, about 90% for solar PV and 70% for onshore wind in a decade, making them cheaper than new coal or gas. China leads, and COP28 set a goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030. ## Answer **Renewable energy** (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, ocean) is growing faster than any other energy source. #### Main trends - **Share:** renewables supply about 30% of world electricity and about 15–20% of final energy (including traditional biomass); hydropower remains the largest renewable electricity source, but solar and wind now add the most new capacity. - **Capacity growth:** global renewable capacity additions have been setting records every year, with solar PV the largest part (a few hundred GW added per year). Over 4,000 GW of renewable capacity exists worldwide. COP28 set a goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030. - **Falling costs:** the cost of solar PV has fallen by about 90% in a decade and onshore wind by around 70%, so new solar and wind are now often cheaper than new coal or gas. - **Leaders:** China (by far the largest in solar, wind and EV), then the USA, India, Brazil and the EU. Developing countries are increasing quickly. - **Technology trends:** large offshore wind farms, floating solar, battery storage, green hydrogen, smart grids and electrification of transport and heating. - **Drivers:** climate commitments (Paris Agreement, net zero), energy security, lower costs and public support. - **Challenges:** intermittency, grid integration and storage, finance in low-income countries, land use, and critical minerals supply. ```text Renewable capacity (illustrative trend) 2000 |## 2010 |##### 2015 |######### 2020 |############## 2024 |########################### ``` (Chart is illustrative, not to scale.) The trend suggests that renewables will become the main source of electricity in coming decades. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which source is the largest renewable electricity source, and which adds the most new capacity? A. Hydropower is largest; solar and wind add the most new capacity B. Solar is largest; hydropower adds the most new capacity C. Wind is largest; geothermal adds the most new capacity D. Biomass is largest; hydropower adds the most new capacity Answer: A. Hydropower remains the biggest renewable electricity source, but solar (especially PV) and wind now add the most new capacity. (Key point: Largest renewable source) 2. Why are new solar and wind now often chosen over new coal or gas? A. Coal and gas are banned worldwide B. They need no grid integration C. They have no land-use requirement D. Their costs have fallen sharply (solar PV about 90% in a decade) Answer: D. Large cost reductions (solar about 90%, onshore wind about 70%) make new solar and wind often cheaper than new fossil plants. (Key point: Falling costs) 3. Which is a main challenge for growth of renewables? A. Too little sunlight at the equator B. Renewables are always more expensive than coal C. Intermittency, grid integration and storage D. Lack of any climate commitments Answer: C. Variable output requires grid integration and storage; finance, land use and critical minerals are also challenges. (Key point: Challenges) 4. What renewable goal was set at COP28? A. Doubling hydropower by 2025 B. Tripling renewable capacity by 2030 C. Ending all biomass use by 2030 D. Reaching 100% renewable electricity by 2030 Answer: B. COP28 set the goal of tripling global renewable capacity by 2030. 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