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Canada added fewer megawatts of renewable energy capacity in 2020 than any of its G7 counterparts, according to new figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
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However, Canada is still the top country in the Group of Seven major industrialized nations for the share of its electricity capacity that is already represented by renewables 鈥� and it boasts the fourth-highest absolute amount of renewable energy in the group.
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The world鈥檚 scientific consensus is that renewables must make up 70 per cent to 85 per cent of electricity systems around the world by 2050 in order to hold global average temperatures to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels and slow the climate crisis.
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Renewable energy sources made up just 37 per cent of the world鈥檚 electricity capacity in 2020. But last year, there was over 260,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity added, beating estimates and previous records, IRENA said in its report, 鈥淩enewable Capacity Statistics 2021,鈥� published April 5.
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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic鈥檚 impact on the economy, 2020 marked 鈥渢he start of the decade of renewables,鈥� said IRENA director-general Francesco La Camera. 鈥淐osts are falling, clean tech markets are growing and never before have the benefits of the energy transition been so clear.鈥�
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Canada added 191 MW of renewables in 2020, most of which was wind power, at 164 MW, as well as smaller amounts of solar, bioenergy and hydropower.
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All other G7 countries added more renewable capacity last year: the United States added 29,190 MW; Germany added 6,565 MW; Japan added 4,222 MW; France added 1,945 MW; Italy added 926 MW; and the United Kingdom added 876 MW.
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Last year鈥檚 addition puts Canada fourth in the G7 for total installed renewable capacity, at 101,188 MW. Japan, previously in the fourth spot, leapfrogged over Canada to claim third place, behind Germany and the U.S.
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Canada, however, has by far the largest renewable energy share of its electricity capacity, at 68 per cent. Germany, in second place for this category, has 56 per cent, and all other G7 nations have a minority of their electricity capacity as renewables. The U.S. is worst, with 25 per cent.
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But the U.S.鈥檚 renewables additions represented a growth rate over 80 per cent from 2019. China was the world鈥檚 renewable energy giant in 2020, adding 136,000 MW, mostly wind and solar power. Like the U.S., only a minority of China鈥檚 electricity capacity is made up of renewables, at 41 per cent.
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The federal government鈥檚 new climate plan calls for expanding the supply of 鈥渃lean electricity鈥� in part by investing in renewables and other 鈥渃lean energy and technology.鈥�
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The government proposes to invest $964 million over four years for 鈥渟mart renewable energy and grid modernization projects,鈥� including new renewables like wind and solar.
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It also wants to decarbonize medium- and heavy-duty vehicle transportation in part through electrification, and transition to 100 per cent new electric vehicle sales by 2040.
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Carl Meyer / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada鈥檚 National Observer
