A new report from the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), a body affiliated with the United Nations and the International Energy Agency (IEA), says renewable energy accounts for over half of all new electricity capacity added in the United States and Europe during 2009.

The REN21 report highlights the shift in manufacturing and deployment of these new energy technologies from developed nations to growing ecnomies like China, Brazil and India.

In 2009, China produced 40% of global solar PV and 30% of all wind turbines; a massive increase from 10% in 2007.

However, despite its advances in implementing green power, China’s carbon dioxide emissions also increased in 2009.  It has overtaken the United States and now claims the title of highest emitting nation in the world.

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Many of the world’s largest developed nations experienced a drop in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in 2009.  China and India, however, saw their own domestic emissions levels rise significantly.  Has this growth in effect “canceled out” the reductions made in developed nations?  According to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the answer is yes.

Global emissions levels remained relatively unchanged in 2009 largely because of Chinese and Indian contributions, despite predictions from groups such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) which thought the global economic meltdown and decrease in manufacturing would assuredly reduce emissions worldwide.

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency notes that carbon dioxide emissions per person in China are now 6.1 tons, roughly equal to France which clocked in at 6.0 tons in 2009.  This figure represents a major increase for China, which in 1990 emitted only 2.2 tons per capita.    Interestingly, this increase comes Chinese wind and solar energy capacity has doubled for the fifth year in a row.

Because of its use of nuclear energy, French emissions are actually on the lower end of the scale in comparison to other developed nations.  Per capita emissions in other EU member nations were 7.9 tons in 2009, down from 9.1 tons in 1990, while per capita emissions in the United Sates fell to 17.2 tons in 2009, decreasing from 19.5 tons in 1990.

All in all, the Dutch agency now reports that 53% of 2009 global emissions came from developing nations, with 44% coming from the developed world.  International air and sea transportation accounts for the remaining 3%.

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Data from the BP Statistical Review of World Energy shows global energy consumption fell by 1.1% last year, with oil and and natural gas usage down across the board.

Global coal use, however, has remained steady.  In fact, as a percentage of world primary energy usage, coal has risen to levels not seen since 1971.

On the other hand, oil’s percentage of global energy usage has fallen consistently over the past decade; from 39.00% in 1999 down to 34.77% in 2009.

As oil production becomes more difficult and expensive, coal is increasingly being employed as a source of transportation fuels.  Nations like South Africa and China have been expanding their coal-to-liquid (CTL) programs, and China reportedly has six major CTL projects under development.

CTL processes may present an alternative way to generate liquid fuel, but it comes at a price.  CTL produces nearly double the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional fuel production from oil, and many climate and environmental advocates worry that if CTL programs become more widespread the world would experience increased emissions levels.

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According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy, global emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions decreased for the first time since 1998, dropping 1.1% to 31.13 billion tons after 2008′s peak of 31.55 billion tons.

However, despite this overall reduction, China’s greenhouse gas emissions have grown sharply as the nation rapidly industrializes and continues to construct new coal-fired power plants.  China is now the world’s leading emitter, having overtaken the United States in 2008.  This past year, China ‘s fossil fuel combustion released 7.5 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

China is not the only developing nation whose emissions have grown sharply.  India also saw an increase of 7%, and it has now overtaken Russia as the world’s third largest emitter.  In aggregate, the developing world now accounts for half of all global emissions.

United States emissions, on the other hand, fell by 6.5% to 5.9 billion tons in 2009, the lowest level since 1995.  However, “although the share of emerging markets is growing, the industrialized countries remain the preponderant source of historical greenhouse gases,” reminds Nick Robins, head of HSBC’s Climate Change Center of Excellence.

The United States and China, as well as the world’s other top emitters, now find themselves under tremendous pressure to either extend the Kyoto Protocol or formulate a successor to the climate treaty, which is set to expire in 2012.  Nations are also attempting to come up with domestic emissions reductions plans of their own.  “In terms of future emissions targets, China is ahead of the U.S. because it has set itself commitments to reduce carbon intensity, while the U.S. is struggling to get climate legislation through Congress,” remarks Robins.

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BEIJING, May 27 (UPI) — China and the United States signed eight green energy deals Wednesday in Beijing but financial details were not disclosed, Chinese media reported.

The deals, designed to increase cooperation in the sector, cover areas such as aviation biofuel, distributed energy systems using natural gas as fuel, smart meters and cellulosic ethanol, the China Daily reported. A number of Chinese and U.S. companies would be involved in the eight deals.

The report quoted analysts that the agreements between the world’s two largest energy users would encourage global collaboration in increasing energy efficiency and protecting the environment.

The agreements came at the conclusion of the two-day China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues in Beijing.

Zhang Guobo, head of the National Energy Administration, also noted bilateral collaboration in renewable energy development, adding: “The United States has advanced technology, and China has a huge market,” the China Daily reported.

U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman was quoted as saying the two countries will “take every angle” to ensure their cooperation in energy and environment.

Zhang said renewable energy development is important for China to achieve goals of increasing the use of non-fossil energy to 15 percent of primary energy use by 2020, and reducing carbon intensity by 40 percent to 45 percent in 2020 from 2005 levels, China Daily reported.

He said China will continue to focus on the development of hydro, wind, solar, and biomass energy in the renewable sector.

Earlier, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu was quoted as saying improving energy efficiency would both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost economic growth.
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The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is instituting its first-ever strategic plan to deal with “Rare earth metals” – the special group of elements that are essential components of clean energy technologies like electric vehicle batteries, compact flourescent light bulbs and solar panels.

As nations around the world increase development and deployment of clean energy, there is a growing anxiety about China’s clear dominance of these essential supplies.  China currently supplies nearly 95% of global demand  for rare earth metals, and the government is attempting to control all processing of rare earth metals.  Over the past seven years,  China has reduced global exports by 40% and some estimates expect China will begin halting exports of these rare earths within the next two years.

“It goes without saying that diversified sources of supply are important for any strategic material,” said David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy & International Affairs.  ”So too are substitutes and strategies for re-use and recycling.  If rare earth metals are going to play an increasing role in our economy, we need to pursue those strategies.”  The DOE is soliciting information from industry, research labs and other related organizations to gain a more complete understanding of cost and supply issues regarding rare earth metals.

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Grappling with skyrocketing energy demand, high pollution levels and international pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reports indicate China may consider instituting taxes on carbon or other resources to boost support for low-carbon energy technologies.

Experts from the Energy Research Institute under the National Development and Reform Commission – a Cabinet department focused on mid- and long- term domestic development – say if it is deemed beneficial, a carbon tax is likely to be levied during the 12th Five-year plan (2011-2015).

Jian Kejun, a senior researcher with the Institute, reaffirmed China’s commitment to reducing its carbon intensity 40-45% by 2020 in recent remarks to the newpaper China Daily.  To reach this target, the government is prepared to pursue “tougher measures” over the next five years, including subsidies and incentives for low-carbon technologies in addition to a potential tax.

Increasing support for scientific research is another top priority in China.  Right now, China’s investment in scientific clean energy research is only one-sixth that of the United States.  However by 2025, China’s investment in this area may overtake that of the United States.  ”If this comes true,” Jing said, “we can start to dream of becoming a low-carbon technology leader in the world.”

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China’s largely untapped vehicle market is becoming more and more attractive for electric vehicle manufacturers, service providers and investors.  Newfound economic prosperity has resulted in many first-time vehicle purchases amongst Chinese citizens.  In 2009, 2% of China’s population owned cars, and 80% of new motor vehicle sales went to first-time buyers.

According to HSBC research, China’s share of the world electric vehicle market will jump from 2.7% to 35% in the next ten years.  During this rapid period of growth, HSBC expects China to push past the United States and Japan.

There is a rapidly growing, yet little serviced market here, and many believe this is a perfect opening to jump in.  A recent example is Better Place, the electric vehicle service provider which aims to install vehicle charging networks to support an electric vehicle infrastructure.  Better Place has inked a deal with Chery Automobile, China’s largest independent auto producer and a major exporter of electric vehicle technology, and will bring its business to the Chinese market for the first time.

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Research expects investments in renewble energy to grow to $653.35 billion within five years, as governments and investors around the world funnel money into this growing sector.

Despite the widespread economic malaise and the tight credit market, global investment in renewable energy increased 43.4% between 2008 to 2009, reaching $336.78 billion.  Since 2001, the industry has achieved a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.8%.

China’s total investment of $11.48 billion made it a major player in the Asian markets, says GBI, with notable investments made in wind and solar projects.

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As the United States Senate prepares to re-visit climate change legislation, the special envoy to the Chinese president voiced grave concern over the effects un-mitigated climate change could have on China’s economy.

“The scale of economic destruction would be equivalent to that of the two world wars and the Great Depression combined” if global temperatures rise by 3°C to 4°C, Xie Zhenhua wrote recently in the China Economic Herald.  ”Human beings cannot afford such disasters.”

In now appears that the group of BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) are becoming more amenable to the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, which they had previously resisted heartedly.  This resistance was a major reason why the United States never ratified the treaty, which is set to expire in 2012.  BASIC environment ministers will meet in South Africa later this month to incorporate elements of the Copenhagen Accord, the non-binding agreement formulated at the Copenhagen climate talks last December, can be worked into a broader global pact to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

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China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is often blamed for its role in world pollution, but the giant nation has a strong appetite for alternative energy. Click thumbnail below to view short video