The world will set a new record for renewable electricity capacity this year, led by solar in China and Europe.

In a report on May 11, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that new renewable energy capacity added in 2021 has reached 295 gigawatts despite supply chain bottlenecks, slow progress. delay in construction and high raw material prices. Next year, an additional 320 gigawatts are expected to be installed, equivalent to the entire electricity demand of Germany or the total electricity production from natural gas of the European Union (EU). This would be the highest increase ever.

Solar energy - led by China and Europe - is estimated to account for 60 percent of renewable electricity growth by 2022, followed by wind and hydro, according to a think tank for developed nations. on energy policy.

"Additional renewable electricity capacity put into service in 2022 and 2023 has the potential to significantly reduce the European Union's dependence on Russian gas in the energy sector. The economy will depend on the success of parallel energy efficiency measures to sustain regional demand," the IEA said.

Amid the conflict between Moscow and Ukraine, the EU has set a target of cutting Russia's dependence on natural gas by two-thirds this year.

"The evolution of the energy market in recent months, especially in Europe, has once again demonstrated the essential role of renewables in improving energy security, in addition to energy efficiency. reduce emissions," emphasized IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

Birol urges governments to accelerate licensing and provide the right incentives for faster renewable energy deployment. The IEA notes that without stronger policies, global growth in renewables will lose momentum next year.

The Norwegian government on Wednesday announced plans to install 1,500 offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 30,000 megawatts by 2040. "It's roughly equivalent to the amount of electricity Norway produces today. Almost all of the country's electricity The country now all comes from hydroelectricity," said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.