Test Your Knowledge on Renewable Energy

An ADB-supported wind farm in the Philippines.
An ADB-supported wind farm in the Philippines.

By Jitendra Shah

In 2015 we discovered that wind energy accounted for over 50% of new electricity produced last year. Let’s hope this trend continues.

What fraction of all new electricity growth around the world in 2015 came from renewables?

  • 30%
  • 50%
  • 70%
  • 90%

The correct answer is… 90%.

Smile, please. In his popular GPS program, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria reported last week that according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 90% of all new electricity growth around the world in 2015 came from renewable sources, and over 50% from wind. Similar trends over the last five years have been observed by REN 21 and Bloomberg energy news. The tilt away from fossil fuels has begun.

Who would have thought that this was even thinkable, let alone possible just 10 years ago? Renewables had only accounted for about 20 to 30% of new electricity for a while. 

But wait – it gets better. IEA data shows decoupling of greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth. This means that the link between economic growth and emissions is weakening. This major news needs to be conveyed to climate change naysayers. It made my day, and hope it makes your day too.

Like that Energizer bunny that keeps on going and going, we at ADB keep on doing and doing what we believe in. And we do make a difference, slowly but steadily.

Over four years ago, ADB launched the Quantum Leap in Wind technical assistance program to promote wind energy across Asia and the Pacific. While the People’s Republic of China, India, Japan, the US and the EU were promoting wind energy, with this project ADB tried to investigate, assist, promote and accelerate policies that would encourage a ‘quantum leap’ in wind through our region.

Then in 2015, we discover that wind energy accounted for more than 50% of all new electricity produced last year. Hope this trend continues.

ADB is big on supporting clean energy solutions for large grid systems and mini- and micro-grid systems, and energy efficiency projects in Asia and the Pacific. So friends, innovate and keep on marching to your convictions. The next step – ADB development plan for a zero-carbon Asia by…? You decide the date.