A lot of industries have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of which is the energy sector. With fewer cars and airplanes traveling for most of the year, fossil fuel producers have taken a great hit. However, the whole Covid-19 pandemic did not overwhelm the renewable energy sector.
According to Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency, or IEA, the pandemic even brought further improvements for renewables. Around 90 percent of the world’s energy growth is attributed to the expansion of solar PV, wind, and hydropower.
India installed 15 gigawatts capacity of wind and solar systems during the first half of 2020 alone. With the cooperation of the European Union or EU, they aim for a 10-percent growth in renewable energy capacity by next year. For the past 10 months, with the inclusion of China, the three leaders have a 15-percent increase in renewables capacity auctioned.
Birol stresses that the renewable energy sector remained strong and thriving despite the ongoing global health crisis. He also urges the policy-makers to support the momentum so that by 2025, renewables will be supplying a third of the world’s demand for electricity.