In China and India rapid growth in electricity demand mirrored rapid economic growth, while the most readily available source of indigenous fuel was coal. In the EU and U.S., slower demand growth and a gradual move away from coal to nuclear, gas, and renewable sources kept emissions from growing and led to recent declines. In all four countries, despite strong growth in renewable energy, its impact on carbon intensity was only beginning to be felt.


These graphs show the changes in Power policy in China, the EU, India, and the US


United States Federal renewable energy incentives

Both state and federal governments created policies to support renewable energy. The two most prominent of these were federal renewable energy tax incentives and state level renewable portfolio standards.


    European Union Renewables targets

    The EU set, and narrowly missed, ambitious renewable energy targets for 2010 for the EU15. For 2020, the EU has set an even more ambitious renewable energy target for the expanded EU27 of 20% of total energy consumption, which translates to 34% of electricity generation from renewable sources.


      India IREDA loan distributions

      Renewable energy growth was supported by increased loan distributions by the central government, including the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).


        China Total installed capacity targets

        Policy encouraged increased renewable energy deployment through a mix of generation targets.