Brussels, 19/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The latest annual report by REN 21 shows that renewable energy technologies continue to develop rapidly, with global eelctricity generation capacity from renewable sources reaching 208 gigawatts in 2008, a 16% rise on 2007. For the first time, in 2008, the EU and the United States installed more electricity generation capacity from renewable sources than from conventional sources. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) says that this increse is due in large part to policies that are more favourabel to the development of renewables to limit global green house gas emissions, to satisfy the growing energy demand, to increase energy security and to stabilise costs. Today, 73 countries have targets on renewables and 64 countries have a policy that envcourages renewable electricity production. In response to the financial crisis, several governments have directed economic recovery package funding towards the renewables sector, while developing economies, such as China and India, are playing an ever larger role in renewable energy production. Boosted by growing political commitment, the sector remains a safe haven for investment, despite the crisis: global investment in renewables exceeded USD 120 billion in 2008, an increase of 16% on 2007, with USD 50 billion going to wind power. (E.H./transl.rt)