Abstract:

The year 2017 was another record-breaking one for renewable energy, characterised by the largest ever increase in renewable power capacity, falling costs, increases in investment and advances in enabling technologies. Many developments during the year impacted the deployment of renewable energy, including the lowest-ever bids for renewable power in tenders throughout the world, a significant increase in attention to electrification of transport, increasing digitalisation, jurisdictions pledging to become coal-free, new policies and partnerships on carbon pricing, and new initiatives and goals set by groups of governments at all levels.

The results showed that electrification of the transport sector gained increasing attention in 2017, and could enable greater integration of renewable electricity. Global sales of electric passenger cars increased 58% over 2016, and more than 3 million of them were traveling the world’s roads by year’s end. The passenger car market remained a small share (1.3%) of total passenger vehicle sales and was eclipsed by two- and three-wheeled EVs. Use of electric buses also increased, with an estimated 386,000 in service (mostly in China).