By George George Idowu
In a significant milestone for global energy sustainability, seven countries have now reached the point where nearly all of their electricity is generated from renewable energy sources.
According to recently compiled data, Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have achieved over 99.7% renewable electricity generation, relying on a mix of geothermal, hydro, solar, and wind power.
This data, sourced from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), underscores the growing global shift towards renewable energy.
In addition to the seven countries leading the way, an additional 40 nations produced at least 50% of their electricity from renewable sources in 2021 and 2022.
These findings were highlighted by Stanford University Professor Mark Jacobson, who has been an advocate for the electrification of energy systems using wind, water, and solar (WWS) technologies.
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Jacobson stressed that the world doesn’t need miracle technologies to stop emissions. Instead, he argued, “We need to stop emissions by electrifying everything and providing the electricity with Wind, Water, and Solar (WWS), which includes onshore wind, solar PV, concentrated solar power, geothermal electricity, small hydroelectricity, and large hydroelectricity.”
Jacobson also pointed to examples like Germany, which has demonstrated the potential to run entirely on renewable electricity for short periods, showcasing what could be possible on a larger scale.
He also said the UK has also made significant strides, with 41.5% of its electricity sourced from renewables in 2022, representing a 10.5% increase from the previous year, according to IEA figures.
Scotland, in particular, has emerged as a leader in renewable energy. In 2022, renewable technologies in Scotland generated electricity, equivalent to 113% of the country’s total consumption. Wind power, a dominant force in Scotland’s energy landscape, is expected to continue its dominance, though researchers foresee solar energy, eventually taking the lead on a global scale.
The future of global electricity generation appears increasingly tied to solar energy. Advances in solar cell efficiency, driven by innovations in materials like perovskite, have brought solar energy to what researchers describe as an “irreversible tipping point.”
A 2023 paper published in *Nature Communications* by scientists at the University of Exeter and University College London argued that solar energy is set to become the world’s primary energy source by 2050.
The study highlighted that technological advancements, spurred by past policy decisions, have made solar energy economically attractive. As investments in solar energy continue to rise, the study suggests that solar power is on a trajectory to dominate global electricity markets, even in the absence of further climate.
