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Greanpeace: 10 amazing facts you probably didn’t know about renewable energy

• January 5, 2011

Greenpeace photo of Wind Power field

In all the spin from fossil fuels and nuclear industries, it is easy to start believing that renewable energy can’t get us out of the climate change hole. Think again – not only is an Energy [R]evolution happening, it’s already underway.

1) Europe DECOMMISSIONED more coal, fuel oil and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009.

2) Solar energy is now working at night on a commercial scale. A plant in Spain has seven hours of heat storage.

3) In the space of just 5 years, Portugal’s electric grid leapt from 15% to 45% renewables.

4) Price Waterhouse Cooper says Europe and North Africa could run on 100% renewable energy by 2050.

5) Subsidies to fossil fuels worldwide outweigh renewable energy support by a ratio of 12:1.

6) West Virgina could replace all its electrical capacity with just 2% of its geothermal power potential.

7) Solar photovoltaic could account for 5% of global power demand by 2020, and up to 9% by 2030.

8) Iceland’s power supply went from 75% imported coal to more than 80% local geothermal and hydro in 30 years.

9) China built (roughly) one windmill an hour in 2009.

10) Our energy needs can be met by 95% renewable energy by 2050.

Want to know more? Read about the Energy [R]evolution and find out more amazing facts about renewable energy.

Read more at Greenpeace International Climate Rescue Blog

Category: Facts

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TckTckTck is the public campaign of the Global Campaign for Climate Action. The GCCA is an unprecedented alliance of more than 300 non-profit organizations all over the world. Our shared mission is to mobilize civil society and galvanize public support to ensure a safe climate future for people and nature, to promote the low-carbon transition of our economies, and to accelerate the adaptation efforts in communities already affected by climate change.

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