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International investment in renewable energies reached $286 billion last year, double that of fossil fuels even as prices continue to tumble.

Jobs in the renewable energy sector (not including large-scale hydropower) increased in 2015 to an estimated 8.1 million, according to the 59-page Renewables Global Status Report, generated by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21).

In parallel with growth in markets and investments, 2015 saw continued advances in renewable energy technologies, ongoing energy efficiency improvements, increased use of smart grid technologies and significant progress in hardware and software to support the integration of renewable energy, as well as progress in energy storage development and commercialization.

For example, Tesla began shipping its Powerwall lithium-ion home batteries to customers -- the first of more than 500,000 batteries it expects to make at its Gigafactory outside Reno, Nev. The company is also producing a commercial-grade battery called the Powerpack, each of which will allow businesses to store up to 100 kilowatt hours of power.

Source: Computer World