Renewables Growing Much Too Slowly

Energy analysis group Ember released its 2024 Global Electricity Review. While renewables are growing quickly as a source, the pace is too slow to significantly contribute to a slowdown in global warming. Other factors, which include factory, vehicle and transportation, and heating issues, continue to do damage to the environment at a tremendous pace.

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According to the report, “Renewables generated a record 30% of global electricity in 2023, driven by growth in solar and wind. With record construction of solar and wind in 2023, a new era of falling fossil generation is imminent.” While this may be true, electricity is only a modest part of the human drive global warming contribution.

Solar and wind have improved the most over past years. However, large projects in these areas face inconsistent government funding and expensive private-sector capital. This means that the growth rate of either or both could slow.

Hydropower

Additionally, hydropower’s contribution has fallen.”Drought conditions resulted in a record fall in hydropower generation, which dropped to a five-year low.” Drought challenges in most parts of the world, where it remains a nearly constant problem, mean this challenge may not change.

The increase in the use of renewable energy for electricity generation is good news. Still, it is not good enough given the pace at which greenhouse gas emissions are rising overall.

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