Mapping renewable energy transition worldwide: Gravity trajectory, contribution decomposition and income levels

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 206; pp. 1265 - 1274
• Main Authors: Li, Weilong, Han, Mengyao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Contribution decomposition; Gravity trajectory; Low-carbon transition; Renewable energy; Low-carbon transition; Gravity trajectory; Renewable energy; Contribution decomposition
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.02.119

To reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change, renewable energy transition worldwide has gradually drawn due attention. Based on the gravity model and decomposition analysis, this study depicted the gravity trajectory of renewable energy transition and quantified the contribution of typical countries, major economic organizations, and different income levels, providing a new perspective for identifying key drivers to promote renewable energy transition worldwide. From the results, the installed capacity of renewable energy worldwide increased from 829.74 GW in 2000 to 2908.08 GW in 2020. The gravity center of renewable energy transition shifted from (10.93°E, 32.17°N) in 2000 to (42.49°E, 34.31°N) in 2020, moving to the northeast significantly. Among them, China, Brazil, and Canada were the engine countries during the eastward movement, while China, Brazil, and Germany were the engine countries during the northward movement. Note that, the contribution of the upper-middle-income countries gradually surpassed that of high-income countries in the northeast movement, while the contribution of the lower-middle-income and low-income countries constantly alternated during the eastward movement. To promote renewable energy transition worldwide, it is practical to accelerate capital and technology transfers and strengthen multi-regional cooperation, which may provide practical strategies and implications towards renewable energy transition worldwide.