Global renewable energy production by region 2021

In 2021, production of renewable energy was higher in Asia than any other region at 3.4 petawatt hours in total that year. Europe and North America followed as top generators of renewable energy, though in each region, production was less than half that of Asia.

Renewable energy in China

High production of renewable energy in Asia comes in part from the region’s high energy demand, with China alone accounting for over a quarter of total global primary energy consumption . While the country is home to the largest installed capacity of renewable energy in the world, including sources such as hydro, solar, and wind power, the current production of renewables is not enough to meet China’s exceptionally high energy demands.

Electricity from renewables

Since 2008, renewable energy has become an increasingly common source of electricity. In Europe especially, the wind-power sector has seen significant developments over the past decade, with electricity consumption from offshore wind in the European Union predicted to be over ten times higher in 2020 than in 2010. Currently, roughly a quarter of total electricity generated worldwide comes from renewable resources .