The United States isn’t the only country with skin in the renewable energy sources game. Several countries are investing in alternate energy systems to generate power in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
Country #1: Canada
The industry of renewable energy has been on the rise in Canada over recent years, especially in terms of solar power systems. By next year, the province of Ontario is estimated to construct enough solar panel racking systems to generate two gigawatts of solar electricity. Installing these solar panel racking systems in addition to renewable energy systems has caused a 37% increase in the amount of Canadians working in the field of renewable energy in a span of four years. Coming in at 16.9%, renewable energy sources contribute a significant portion of the country’s total energy supply.
Country #2: Brazil
The South American country of Brazil contributes significant investments towards wind energy. As the host of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil incorporated the use of solar energy through building solar panel racking systems into World Cup stadiums and venues. An impressive 90% of Brazil’s electricity is produced through hydroelectric power plants but the country continues to look into alternatives such as wind and biomass. Developing vehicles that run on bio-fuel derived from sugar cane to create ethanol continues to set an example of forward-thinking in diverse renewable energy alternatives.
Country #3: China
As the largest energy consuming country in the world, China’s renewable energy policies create a significant impact that is felt globally. China is the leader in clean energy investments with about half of investments targeting the use of wind power. A strategy to decrease air pollution while increasing self-sustainability has kick started China’s desire to expand their market for renewable energy systems. China experts predict that by 2050, the amount of energy derived from coal-powered plants will drop by 20% to 40% as the infrastructure for renewable energy continues to grow.
Country #4: Japan
In the early 2000s Japan was the second largest producer of solar energy. As a country that imports the majority of its energy, the oil crises of the 1970s caused Japan to prioritize renewable energy investments. Since 2012, Japan has increased its clean energy capacity by 11,090 megawatts after introducing an investment incentive. Through large-scale projects building wind farms and mega-solar power plants, the country hopes to continue to expand its domestic energy resources. With lots of access to coastline, Japan has created solar power plants offshore to generate power without taking land away from an already densely populated area.
Countries continue to improve the technology for renewable energy. As a result of this, renewable energy becomes more and more cost-effective. As countries develop policies for promoting the use of renewable energy it is a good idea to take note of what is and isn’t producing desirable results. Please share your thoughts and comments.