Growing renewable power: companies seizing leadership opportunities
RE100 Annual Progress and Insights Report 2020 December 2020
November 2020 Foreword
The science is clear: the world’s energy system must undergo a rapid transformation.
At the forefront of this revolution are RE100 members, committed to 100% renewable electricity. This report covers 261 reporting companies with an electricity consumption of over 278 terawatt-hours per year (TWh/yr)* – more than Australia1.
As the cost of renewables continues to Recent policy shifts in Japan, South Korea plummet2 and the world looks beyond the and the Taiwanese market recognise COVID-19 crisis, investing in clean energy RE100 demand and are unlocking clean is vital. Corporate renewable power energy use along supply chains — boosting sourcing can get us there — fast. the economy when we need it most.
Despite 2020’s challenges, unprecedented Transparency is vital renewables demand continues. RE100’s To tackle membership is growing and diversifying, This report shows where RE100 members climate change especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The are active, how much renewable electricity we need to biggest companies are sending us a they are sourcing and how. For example, halve global clear message: there is a vast appetite over a quarter are now using power emissions by for clean energy. 2030 and reach purchase agreements (PPAs) — growing net zero by renewable electricity capacity and helping 2050. Energy Supportive policy needed to decarbonise electricity grids. companies This is the Climate Decade and our This year, we have requested more data have a pivotal mission is more urgent than ever. It’s time role to play 3 from members and raised the bar on to accelerate the transition to zero carbon verification. We are also publicly identifying electricity grids. which markets members find most challenging to source renewable power and By committing to 100% renewable power, meet their goals. RE100 members are leading the way globally. Every major company now The more data we can provide to needs to step up. stakeholders, the better equipped we are to enable change. Businesses and policymakers must work together – governments RE100 is a On the road to 100% renewable power, global initiative worldwide also need to step up and further transparency is vital to reveal led by the provide affordable and reliable progress, inform the market and drive policy Climate Group market access, so companies can shifts. Together, we can accelerate the in partnership source 100% renewable electricity. clean energy transition. with CDP
*The RE100 membership is growing rapidly, with more than 20 new joiners since the end of the reporting period (September 2020) taking the total electricity demand to over 300 TWh/yr. We are confirming their data for publication in 2021.
2 Growing renewable power: companies seizing leadership opportunities Key findings
Growing & diversifying Ambitious targets & membership steady progress 260+ 2028 members: despite COVID-19, a is our members’ average record number of companies are goal for achieving 100% committing to 100% renewable renewable power electricity* 3/4 278+ of our members plan to reach 100% TWh/yr renewable electricity by 2030 Our members’ aggregated electricity demand is higher than Australia’s* 41% of total members’ electricity 42% usage comes from renewables of new members are from the Asia-Pacific region 53 members have announced reaching 100% renewable electricity Impactful sourcing 65 strategies members are using over 90% renewable electricity Our members are shifting markets away from fossil fuels and speeding up the clean energy transition Challenging markets
Members identified Argentina, Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, 26% Singapore, South Korea and the Taiwanese Power purchase agreements (PPAs) market as the most challenging markets for now account for 26% of members’ achieving 100% renewable electricity sourced renewable power 50% Half of respondents said impactful sourcing options improve cost savings and over two-thirds of these members have PPAs *The data in this report is for 261 reporting companies, but the membership is growing rapidly, with more than 20 companies joining since the end of the reporting period (September 2020). The new joiners take the total electricity demand to over 300 TWh/yr. We are confirming their data for publication in 2021.
| Growing renewable power: companies seizing leadership opportunities 3 About the data
This report presents 2019 data disclosed by 261 members in 2020 through the RE100 reporting spreadsheet or the CDP climate change questionnaire.
The RE100 reporting spreadsheet provides further geographical breakdown detail of companies’ electricity consumption and their sourcing strategies, while CDP disclosure reveals companies' broader climate change risks and impacts.
Below is our members’ response rate for each question: