BERLIN, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The International Energy Agency said from Berlin it was including an assessment of the renewable energy sector in a mid-term report for the first time.
"A portfolio of renewable energy technologies is becoming competitive in an increasing range of circumstances and countries," said IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven in a statement.
The IEA said the renewable energy sector was the fastest growing sector in the energy mix. Renewables account for roughly 20 percent of the electricity produced worldwide. This, the IEA said, means renewables should take a place beside oil and natural gas in the annual mid-term report.
European countries have set ambitious targets for renewable energy though other major economies are falling behind.
The report is to take an in-depth look at the renewable energy sector at the national level to examine only what's driving the sector and what can be considered a barrier.
Van der Hoeven warned that "significant policy effort, combined with continued economic incentives, is still needed to push a large portfolio of these technologies toward full competitiveness."
The mid-term report will be published in July.
