Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain and tides which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2008, about 19% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.2% from hydroelectricity. New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 2.7% and are growing very rapidly. The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3% from new renewables. At the end of 2009, worldwide wind farm capacity was 157,900 MW, representing an increase of 31 percent during the year, and wind power supplied some 1.3% of global electricity consumption.Wind power accounts for approximately 19% of electricity use in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland. As of 2009, the 209 megawatt (MW) Horns Rev 2 wind farm in Denmark is the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
The wind power technology is 10-15 years ahead the wave power technology. And it will be most intresting to see how fast the wave power technology and market can grow in the coming years.