A global shift to renewable energy – IRENA

On global green growth, she said, in 2004-2008, there was a fourfold  increase in renewable energy investments, while RE investments in 2009  stood at $162 billion.

Renewable energy sector may have 20m new jobs, Khaleej Times 28 September 2010ABU DHABI — Renewable energy sector around the world will have some 20 million new job opportunities by 2030, said Helene Pelosse, interim Director- General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), here on Monday.Addressing a five-day conference on renewable energy, which began on Sunday, -Pelosse said there is significant growth in the jobs in the renewable energy sector worldwide. In 2008, it was 2,332,000, which is expected to reach 20,000,000 additional jobs requirements in the sector by 2030.

According to her, there could be 50 per cent renewable energy in the  energy mix by 2050. There were double digit growth rates for photovoltaic  and wind over the last years and 60 per cent of new capacity in Europe  come from renewable energy.   Pelosse said, 85 countries are with policy targets and other 75 countries  with feed-in tariffs.

On global green growth, she said, in 2004-2008, there was a fourfold  increase in renewable energy investments, while RE investments in 2009  stood at $162 billion.  Pelosse said, the renewable energy currently amounts to 18 per cent of the  global final energy consumption.  A shift in energy potential is required as the coal, oil are on the  downturn and how many years left for fossil fuels even if shale gas and  oil are increasing reserves, Pelosse said.

She said, there are three main drivers for renewable energy: economic  growth, climate change and energy security.

Renewable energy sector may have 20m new jobs

September 28, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, renewable | climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, solar, wind