- Name
- Percentage of renewables in energy mix (%)
- Indicator purpose
- This indicator measures the share of renewable energy used in the generation of electricity.
- Abstract
- The role of data is currently gaining momentum in energy systems analyses and application. The promotion of energy, and in particular of electricity from renewable sources of energy, is a high priority for sustainable development for several reasons, including the security and diversification of energy supply and environmental protection[1].
[1] https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1222_web.pdf
- Contact organization / person
- Energy Unit (Ministry of Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities) - Geon Hanson and Deon Kelly
- Unit of measure
- Percentage (%)
- Classification used
- This indicator aggregates renewable energy options with respect to electricity generation. Renewable energy includes both combustible and non-combustible renewables. Non-combustible renewables include geothermal, solar, wind, hydro, tide and wave energy. For geothermal energy, the energy quantity is the enthalpy of the geothermal heat entering the process. For solar, wind, hydro, tide and wave energy, the quantities entering electricity generation are equal to the electrical energy generated. Electricity is accounted for at the same heat value as electricity in final consumption (i.e. 1 terawatt hour [TWh] equals 0.086 million tonnes of oil equivalent [Mtoe]). Direct use of geothermal and solar heat and heat from heat pumps is also included.[1]
The combustible renewables and waste (CRW) consist of biomass (fuelwood, vegetal waste, ethanol) and animal products (animal materials/wastes and sulphite lyes), municipal waste (wastes produced by the residential, commercial and public service sectors that are collected by local authorities for disposal in a central location for the production of heat and/or power) and industrial waste; all for the production of heat and/or power.
Non-renewable resources refer to fossil fuels: solids, liquids and gases.
[1] https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1222_web.pdf
- Disaggregation
- Technology Type (Hydro, Solar, Wind, Biomass, Fossil Fuels, Imported Electricity)
- Key statistical concepts
- Methodological Description:
The indicator is computed by calculating the simple ratio (renewable share) of electricity production from Renewable Energy sources (RE) to total electricity production.
Total Electricity production is calculated by the following formula: Renewable Energy Electricity Production + Non-Renewable Electricity Production + Imported Electricity.
The elements comprising this indicator are renewable resources, non-renewable resources, and imports of electricity. Renewable resources refer to energy collected from current ambient energy flows or from substances derived from them. The indicator aggregates renewable energy sources on one side and all other non-renewable sources on the other hand[1].
[1]https://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment/envpdf/UNSD_UNEP_ECOWAS%20Workshop/Session%2008-2%20Energy%20indicators%20(UNSD).pdf
- Recommended uses
- Energy indicators are a useful tool for summarizing information and monitoring trends reflecting various aspects of a country’s energy situation over time. A number of indicators can be compiled from basic energy statistics, energy balances and energy accounts.
Energy-related emissions are responsible for majority of all greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing the share of renewables in electricity generation will help to reduce the use of fossil fuels such as crude oil and thus the emission of greenhouse gases. Increasing the share of renewable energy is therefore an important contribution to climate protection and also helps to save resources[1].
This indicator can be used to direct energy and climate change policy development and provide decision-makers with scientific backed information.
[1] https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/indicator-renewable-energy#at-a-glance
- Other comments
- This indicator is linked to fuel shares (energy mix) in energy and electricity and non-carbon fuel shares. Also, the indicator is linked to indicators related to security of supplies and environmental protection.
- Baseline
- 34% (2010)
- Target 2020
- 45%
- Target 2030
- 65%
