The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region comprises 56 countries throughout Europe, North America and Asia. Their energy systems are characterised by differences in resource availability, market design, regulation and policy as well as existing infrastructure. Throughout the region, motivations including mitigation of climate change as well as regional pollution, the reconstruction of future-proof economies after the Covid-19 pandemic, improvements of security of affordable energy supply and energy independence are driving the uptake of renewable energy.

Given the differences in renewable energy deployment status and approaches to policymaking, there is a large potential for knowledge transfer and mutual learning among UNECE member states. This report facilitates the knowledge exchange among member states by providing an overview of renewable energy deployment and policymaking in the region. It points out recent trends and developments in both the deployment of different renewable energy technologies and supporting policies in the UNECE member states. By doing so, it informs policymaking throughout the region in the transition to a more sustainable energy supply. In turn, this will help achieve national and global energy and climate targets and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report was issued on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the project “UNECE Renewable Energy Uptake”, conducted by the German Energy Agency (dena) in collaboration with the UNECE and REN21.