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posted by martyb on Thursday October 27 2016, @12:37AM   Printer-friendly
from the The-answer-is-blowin'-in-the-wind dept.

The International Energy Agency [IEA] says that the world's capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources has now overtaken coal.

The IEA says in a new report that last year, renewables accounted for more than half of the increase in power capacity.

The report says half a million solar panels were installed every day last year around the world. In China, it says, there were two wind turbines set up every hour.

Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydro are seen as a key element in international efforts to combat climate change. At this stage, it is the capacity to generate power that has overtaken coal, rather than the amount of electricity actually produced. Renewables are intermittent - they depend on the sun shining or the wind blowing, for example, unlike coal which can generate electricity 24 hours a day all year round. So renewable technologies inevitably generate a lot less than their capacity.

Even so it is striking development.

The IEA's Executive Director Fatih Birol said "We are witnessing a transformation of global power markets led by renewables".

Link to original BBC story: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37767250


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  • (Score: 2, Troll) by tisI on Thursday October 27 2016, @05:21AM

    by tisI (5866) on Thursday October 27 2016, @05:21AM (#419290)

    Solar isn't the only "Renewable" method to generate electricity.
    Wind, geothermal, ocean wave, hydroelectric to name a few.
    Intelligently deployed, any nation can easily generate all the electric power they need without burning coal or anything else for that matter.
    Many civilized nations about the planet are heading in this direction.

    The problem here in the US is the majority of yocals still think the earth is flat and won't be bothered with such nonsense as climate change. Just give 'em their guns, they'll be fine.
    To make matters worse, our leadership is in the pocket of any and every major corporate interest. All corrupted as hell top to bottom.

    In Florida, solar panels and wind turbines are discouraged. Criminal offenses and such may (and have) ensue.
    In Oregon (one of the rainiest places on earth), collecting rain water is strictly verboten. That water belongs to the public utility. You have to pay for that.
    Can't have anyone get a free ride now can we?

    Nah, the mentality here in the US is completely head-up-ass.
    We're lead by corrupt incompetent imbeciles too busy sucking corporate dick to do any good.
    The rest are busy running in circles blaming everyone and everything for every problem imaginable.

    We're pathetic, go on without us into the 21st century.

    --
    "Suppose you were an idiot...and suppose you were a member of Congress...but I repeat myself."
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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by frojack on Thursday October 27 2016, @07:30AM

    by frojack (1554) on Thursday October 27 2016, @07:30AM (#419319) Journal

    Yeah, great, lets turn it into a political problem. Lots of free wind there.

    --
    No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.