# Current state of renewable energy

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2017-04-16

bloomberg, bloomberg-new-energy-finance, electricity, energy, new-energy-finance, onshore-wind, power, renewable-energy, solar, solar-energy, solar-power, uncategorized, united-nations, wind, wind-generation, wind-power

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The United Nations and Bloomberg New Energy Finance recently published a report covering [global trends in the renewable energy space for 2017](http://fs-unep-centre.org/sites/default/files/publications/globaltrendsinrenewableenergyinvestment2017.pdf). 

Here are some of their key findings:

\- 2016 was a record year in terms of renewable power capacity installed worldwide. This includes wind, solar, biomass and waste-to-energy, geothermal, small hydro, and marine sources.

\- The share of global electricity generated from renewable sources rose from 10.3% (2015) to 11.3% (2016).

\- However, overall investment in renewables declined in 2016 for two main reasons. Costs went down (good news). And China and Japan exhibited a dramatic slowdown in terms of investment activity (bad news).

\- Acquisitions of renewal assets, such as wind farms and solar parks, hit a new peak at $72.7 billion.  

\- A number of promising new pricing records set in 2016: $29.10 per MWh for solar in Chile and $30 per MWh for onshore wind in Morocco.  

\- In one year, the cost of solar generation dropped on average about 17% and onshore wind dropped about 18%.

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/current-state-of-renewable-energy)*