The development of the electricity supply sector is characterised by a growing renewable energy market. This will compensate for the phasing out of nuclear energy and reduce the number of fossil fuelfired power plants required for grid stabilisation. By 2050, 81% of the electricity produced in the Transition Economy countries will come from renewable energy sources. ‘New’ renewables – mainly wind, solar thermal energy and PV – will contribute 65% of electricity generation.

The installed capacity of renewable energy technologies will grow from the current 93 GW to 550 GW in 2050, increasing capacity by a factor of six over the next 42 years. This will require political support and well-designed policy instruments.

Figure 6.77 shows the expansion rate of the different renewable technologies over time. Up to 2020, hydro-power and wind will remain the main contributors. After 2020, the continuing growth of wind will be complemented by electricity from biomass, photovoltaics and geothermal energy.