---
title: "World renewable energy scenario"
subject: "Power Plant Design"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/power_plant_design:world-renewable-scenario"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/power_plant_design/world-renewable-scenario
site: BCT Engineering
---

# World renewable energy scenario

Power Plant Design · Chapter 1: Energy Sources and Electric Power Generation

- Asked in: 2081 Shrawan, 6 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/power_plant_design/world-renewable-scenario
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/power_plant_design/chapter-1

## Question

Present in brief the world scenario of renewable energy sector of the recent decade.

## Short answer

Global renewable capacity more than doubled to over 4000 GW, with solar PV surpassing 2000 GW and wind 1000 GW; renewables now supply about 30–32% of world electricity. Solar and wind costs fell by 85–90% and 60–70%, driven by climate goals, energy security, and Chinese manufacturing. Challenges remain in grid integration, storage, and supply chains.

## Answer

In the last decade renewable energy has become the **fastest-growing and cheapest source of new electricity** in the world. Figures below are approximate, as per IRENA, IEA and Ember reports.

#### Growth of capacity
- Global renewable capacity has more than doubled in ten years, from about 1,800 GW (2014) to over 4,000 GW (2024).
- Yearly additions hit new records almost every year: about 470 GW in 2023 and about 580 GW in 2024. Renewables now make up over 80% of all new power capacity added.
- **Solar PV** leads the growth (over 2,000 GW installed), followed by **wind** (over 1,000 GW). Hydropower is the largest single renewable source by energy, about 1,400 GW.

#### Share in electricity generation
- Renewables supplied about 22% of world electricity in 2014 and about 30–32% by 2023–2024.
- Hydro gives about 14%, wind about 8% and solar about 7% of world electricity.
- Some countries are very high: Norway, Nepal, Paraguay (almost all hydro), Denmark (wind >50%), Germany and the UK (above 40–50%).

#### Fall in cost
- Cost of solar PV electricity fell by about 85–90% and onshore wind by about 60–70% during the decade.
- New solar and wind are now cheaper than new coal or gas plants in most countries.
- Battery storage cost also fell by about 80–90%, making solar + storage practical.

#### Main drivers
1. Climate commitments: Paris Agreement (2015), net-zero targets, and the COP28 (2023) pledge to **triple renewable capacity by 2030**.
2. Energy security after fuel price shocks (2022).
3. Large manufacturing in China (which installs more than half of new solar and wind).
4. Policy support: auctions, feed-in tariffs, carbon pricing.

#### Challenges
Grid integration of variable output, need for storage and flexible plants, transmission bottlenecks, supply chains of critical minerals, and financing in developing countries.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. How did world renewable capacity change over the decade?
   A. Halved
   B. Stayed same
   C. Grew 10%
   D. More than doubled from about 1,800 GW to over 4,000 GW
   Answer: D. Capacity went from about 1,800 GW (2014) to over 4,000 GW (2024). (Key point: Growth of capacity)

2. Which is a main driver?
   A. Banning batteries
   B. Climate commitments such as Paris Agreement and COP28 pledge to triple renewables by 2030
   C. Reduced policy support
   D. Falling Chinese manufacturing
   Answer: B. Climate pledges, energy security, Chinese manufacturing and policy support drive growth. (Key point: Main drivers)

3. Which is a challenge?
   A. Too much storage
   B. No variability
   C. Grid integration of variable output and need for storage
   D. Excess transmission
   Answer: C. Variable output needs storage, flexible plants and transmission. (Key point: Challenges)

## Related in Power Plant Design

- [World renewable trends and impact on Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Aworld-renewable-trend-nepal) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1
- [Nepalese electricity sector scenario](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Anepal-electricity-scenario) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1
- [Is firewood in Nepal renewable?](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Afirewood-renewable-nepal) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Why biomass is a renewable source](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Abiomass-renewable-claim) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Renewable energy trend in world](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Arenewable-energy-trend-world) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2
- [Renewable energy and trapping solar energy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aenergy-renewable-solar-066j) — Building Technology, chapter 1
- [Global and national energy scenario](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aglobal-national-energy-scenario) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2
- [World energy trend, importance of renewables](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aenergy-consumption-trend-re-importance) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2