一份最新的全球分析報告指出，再生能源產業已從不起眼的角色邁入了能源產業的主流市場；不過，一般大眾對這個趨勢並不暸解。
根據27日發布的《再生能源2007全球現況》報告，目前全球有240萬人就業於再生能源產業，再生能源發電量從2004年至今已成長了兩倍，達240GW（gigawatt，十億瓦）。
這份報告由「21世紀再生能源組織」（簡稱REN21）所製作，這是一個總部位於法國巴黎的全球政策組織；而另一個位於美國華府、關注能源、資源以及環境議題的看守世界研究中心（Worldwatch Institute），亦有參與。
此報告指出，當前全球再生能源的發電總量，相當於2006年全世界核能電量的1/4，REN21主席、前全球環境基金（GEF）執行長阿什雷（Mohamed El-Ashry）表示：「在過去五年來，再生能源產業發生了許多變化，以致於有些政治人物和能源產業分析家對於現在可再生能源的觀感遠遠落後於現況。」
在此產業成長最快的技術是可連結家用電路的太陽能光電板（photovoltaics, PV），在2006及2007年的累計裝設率都達到50%的成長，估計約發出了7.7GW的電力。
看守世界研究中心主席法拉非（Chris Flavin）表示，這份報告表示在即將來臨的幾年之內，再生能源將有助於滿足人類的能源需求，並減少二氧化碳排量，「科學結論告訴我們，我們需要持續大幅減少排放量，但是這一切還需要更有力的政策以促進綠色能源的成長」。
現況報告中也指出，2007年間，對新替代性能源、燃料和熱能生產的投資額預估上達710億美元。
阿什雷表示「領導性的指摽非常重要，就像再生能源現在被列為聯合國能源政策和G8高峰會的第一個討論議題」，至少有66個國家有其再生能源產量目標的政策，其中包括歐洲所有27個歐盟國家、29個美國的州、華府，以及加拿大的9個省。
大部分政府已將再生能源設定為「部分替代發電」、「主要能源」，以及（或）「未來最終能源」；且大多以2010至2012年為發展期，也有愈來愈多政府以2020年為再生能源目標年。
例如，歐盟計劃在2020年以前，以再生能源為最終能源的比率能達到20%。中國則以2020年為限，希望能有15%的能源用量以再生能源為主。除了中國之外，數個開發中國家也紛紛訂定（或修訂）了2006-2007的再生能源目標。
The renewable energy industry is rising from obscurity into the mainstream of the energy sector, the latest global assessment reveals, although public perception of the industry has not kept pace with the reality.
The renewable energy sector now accounts for 2.4 million jobs globally, and has doubled electric generating capacity since 2004, to 240 gigawatts, according to the Renewables 2007 Global Status Report released today.
The status report was prepared by REN21, formally known as the Renewable Energy Network for the 21st Century, a global policy network which is headquartered in Paris, France - in collaboration with the Washington, DC-based research organization Worldwatch Institute, which works on energy, resource, and environmental issues.
New renewable energy generated as much electric power worldwide in 2006 as one-quarter of the world's nuclear power plants, the report states.
"So much has happened in the renewable energy sector during the past five years that the perceptions of some politicians and energy-sector analysts lag far behind the reality of where the renewables industry is today," says REN21 Chairman Mohamed El-Ashry, who formerly headed the Global Environment Facility, an international funding agency.
The fastest growing energy technology in the world is grid-connected solar photovoltaics, PV, with 50 percent annual increases in cumulative installed capacity in both 2006 and 2007, to an estimated 7.7 gigawatts.
Worldwatch President Chris Flavin says the report shows that renewable energy is poised to make a contribution to meeting energy needs and reducing the growth in carbon dioxide emissions in the years immediately ahead. "The science is telling us we need to substantially reduce emissions now, but this will only happen with even stronger policies to accelerate the growth of clean energy," Flavin says.
Investment reached an estimated $71 billion in new renewable power, fuel, and heat production assets worldwide in 2007, the status report shows.
"This leadership has never been more important, as renewable energy has now reached the top of the international policy agenda under the United Nations and the G8," said El-Ashry. Policy targets for renewable energy exist in at least 66 countries worldwide, including all 27 European Union countries, 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and nine Canadian provinces.
Most targets are for shares of electricity production, primary energy, and/or final energy by a future year. Most targets aim for the 2010-2012 timeframe, although an increasing number of targets aim for 2020.
There is now an EU-wide target of 20 percent of final energy by 2020, and a Chinese target of 15 percent of primary energy by 2020. In addition to China, several other developing countries adopted or upgraded targets during 2006-2007.
全文及圖片詳見：ENS
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