METHODOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION (a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: This indicator aggregates renewable
energy options with respect to TPES, TFC and electricity generation and generating
capacity.
Renewable energy includes both combustible and non-combustible renewables.
Non-combustible renewables include geothermal, solar, wind, hydro, tide and wave
energy. For geothermal energy, the energy quantity is the enthalpy of the geothermal
heat entering the process. For solar, wind, hydro, tide and wave energy, the quantities
entering electricity generation are equal to the electrical energy generated. Electricity
is accounted for at the same heat value as electricity in final consumption (i.e. 1
terawatt hour [TWh] equals 0.086 million tonnes of oil equivalent [Mtoe]). Direct use
of geothermal and solar heat and heat from heat pumps is also included.
The combustible renewables and waste (CRW) consist of biomass (fuelwood, vegetal
waste, ethanol) and animal products (animal materials/wastes and sulphite lyes),
municipal waste (wastes produced by the residential, commercial and public service
sectors that are collected by local authorities for disposal in a central location for the
production of heat and/or power) and industrial waste.
(b) Measuring Methods: This indicator is computed by calculating the ratio of the
consumption and production of renewables to total final energy supply and
production.
The share of renewables in electricity is the electricity generated from renewables
divided by total electricity use.
Energy use is measured in terms of heat content based on specific net calorific values
(NCVs).
For electricity generating capacity, the indicator corresponds to the shares of
renewables in overall capacity.
(c) Limitations of the Indicator: Data on particular renewables for a number of
developing countries might be a limitation.
