The report outlines the current technological status and growth of our favourite energy technologies, together with the key challenges and barriers for further development.

Wind energy is top of the list – described as a mature option in sustainable energy with great potential and a rapid development over the past 25 years. It has seen a healthy annual average growth and now makes a meaningful contribution towards global energy requirements. Seeing even larger increases in annual growth are the solar and geothermal technologies.

The Riso Report produced by the Danish National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy outlines development perspectives for energy supply technologies, new energy systems, end-use energy efficiency improvements and new policy measures. It also includes estimates of the CO2 reduction potential for different technologies.

A comparison of the reported annual average growth rates of wind energy compared with other technologies is listed below together with total share of global energy mix and potential share of global energy mix comparisons:

Wind
Annual average growth: 17.1 percent
Total share of global energy mix 2007: 3.3 percent of electricity
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: 29.1 percent of electricity

Solar cells
Annual average growth: 40 percent
Total share of global energy mix 2007: 0.1 percent of total supply
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: 1-2 percent of electricity

Solar thermal
Annual average growth: 17-20 percent

Biomass-based fuels for transport
Annual average growth: 6.3 percent
Total share of global energy mix 2007: one percent of transport fuel
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: 10 percent of transport fuel

Biomass – combustion, gasification and pyrolysis
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: 25 percent

Fossil fuels – combustion and gasification
Annual average growth: coal: 1.8 percent; gas: 2.3 percent; oil: 1.3 percent
Total share of global energy mix 2007: coal: 25 percent; gas: 25 percent of electricity; oil: 37 percent
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: coal: 25 percent; gas: 31 percent of electricity

Nuclear energy (fission)
Annual average growth: 0.7 percent
Total share of global energy mix 2007: 16 percent of electricity
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: 10 percent of electricity

Fusion energy
Total share of global energy mix 2007: zero

Geothermal energy
Annual average growth: 20 percent
Total share of global energy mix 2007: 0.4 percent of total supply
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: two percent of total energy mix

Hydro, ocean, wave and tidal
Annual average growth: two percent
Total share of global energy mix 2007: hydro: 16 percent of electricity; wave, current and tidal: zero
Potential total share of global energy mix 2030: hydro: 16 percent of electricity; wave: 10 percent of electricity