Insights

Net zero renewable energy refers to a state where the amount of greenhouse gases produced is no more than the amount removed from the atmosphere. Achieving this balance is crucial to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

To reach net zero emissions by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has outlined that the global rate of renewable energy generation needs to double. This means adding 12% more renewable generating capacity each year over the next eight years, which is double the current rate.

The IEA’s computer modelling shows that the rate at which new renewable energy capacity is added globally needs to jump from 134 Gigawatts (GW) a year in 2020 to 630 GW a year in 2030. This will require considerable effort and a massive deployment of all available clean energy technologies.

Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, accounted for 29% of total global electricity generation in 2020. However, much of this growth was due to reduced power-demand during lockdowns. To achieve net zero, the rate at which new renewable energy capacity is added globally needs to significantly increase.

The UN’s Global Roadmap also sets out milestones the world must reach to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It includes no new coal power plans after 2021 and $35bn annual investment in access to electricity by 2025. The UN also wants to see 30 million jobs created in renewable energy by 2025.

In conclusion, achieving net zero renewable energy is a challenging but necessary goal. It requires a global effort to increase the production of renewable energy, reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, and invest in clean energy technologies.