Green energy will account for 26% of the electricity production in 2020

Renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro, etc.) will account for 26% of the world’s electricity production in 2020, compared to 22% in 2013, the International Energy Agency (IEA) foresees in its latest report.

The development of renewables will be particularly important in developing countries. China alone will own 40% of the new installed capacities. In many countries, renewable energy sources, including wind and photovoltaic sources, have seen a drastic decrease of their production prices, which has made them competitive with other types of energy. The IEA appears to be more prudent with regard to biofuel-based energy, which will continue to see an increase, despite the lower oil prices, but at a more stable pace. It will account for 4% of the fuel demand in the road transport sector in 2020. While wind and photovoltaic energy no longer need a high level of (public) support, their attractiveness will depend to a great extent on the market regulation and operation framework, according to the agency. On the emerging markets, the risks are now the barriers imposed by regulation, the network restrictions and the microeconomic conditions.

What mechanisms does the Commission have available for the emerging countries in this sector with regard to the possible removal of the barriers in the renewable energy field?