<P> Annual generation of nuclear power has been on a slight downward trend since 2007, decreasing 1.8% in 2009 to 2558 TWh, and another 1.6% in 2011 to 2518 TWh, despite increases in production from most countries worldwide, because those increases were more than offset by decreases in Germany and Japan . Nuclear power met 11.7% of the world's electricity demand in 2011 . Source: IEA / OECD </P> <P> Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources that are not significantly depleted by their use, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat . Renewable energy is gradually replacing conventional fuels in four distinct areas: electricity generation, hot water / space heating, motor fuels, and rural (off - grid) energy services . </P> <P> Based on REN21's 2014 report, renewables contributed 19 percent to our energy consumption and 22 percent to our electricity generation in 2012 and 2013, respectively . This energy consumption is divided as 9% coming from traditional biomass, 4.2% as heat energy (non-biomass), 3.8% hydro electricity and 2% electricity from wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass . Worldwide investments in renewable technologies amounted to more than US $214 billion in 2013, with countries like China and the United States heavily investing in wind, hydro, solar and biofuels . Renewable energy resources exist over wide geographical areas, in contrast to other energy sources, which are concentrated in a limited number of countries . Rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency is resulting in significant energy security, climate change mitigation, and economic benefits . In international public opinion surveys there is strong support for promoting renewable sources such as solar power and wind power . At the national level, at least 30 nations around the world already have renewable energy contributing more than 20 percent of energy supply . National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the coming decade and beyond . </P> <P> The following table shows increasing nameplate capacity, and has capacity factors that range from 11% for solar, to 40% for hydropower . </P>

Most of the renewable energy consumption on earth is from