RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN THE WORLD AND IN CROATIA - PRESENT STATUS AND PROSPECTIVES

New renewable energy sources (RES) are presently in a transitional phase from almost insignificant sources till their full competitiveness in the world market. They reduce carbon emissions, clean the air and offer to countries around the world energy security and economic development. The industrialized countries in Europe, America and Asia have proclaimed their RES development goals. R&D sector has succeeded in cooperation with banks and industry, and as a result more than 100 billion dollars were invested in OIE in 2007. RES without large hydro electric plants hove contributed to 15 percent in global final electricity consumption. The growth rate of renewable technologies and industry has been from 20 to 60 percent in this decade, shortening the lime necessary to reach their competitiveness towards conventional energy sources. This paper reviews the present status and future prospects of electricity production by RES, and gives an overview of the PV development in Croatia from the past fill the present.