18. Directions (18-24): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below. Certain
words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Renewable energy is the future, and future is finally here. Global investment in renewable energy shot up
last year, far outstripping investment in fossil fuels, according to a UN report. As the price of clean energy
technology plummets, it has become an increasingly attractive prospect for world governments. China
was by far the world’s largest investor in renewable energy in 2017, accounting for nearly half of the
new infrastructure commissioned. This was mainly a result of its massive support for solar power, which
globally attracted nearly a fifth more investment than in the previous year. Other countries including
Australia, Sweden and Mexico more than doubled the amount of money they pumped into clean energy
projects. “Yet again, this was a record year for new renewable power capacity being financed,” Francoise
d’Estais from UN Environment’s energy and climate branch told The Independent. “We had a record 157
gigawatts commissioned last year, far outstripping the fossil fuel generating capacity, which we estimated
as 70 gigawatts.”
In just over a decade, concerted investment has increased the proportion of world electricity generated
by wind, solar and other renewable sources from around 5 per cent to 12 per cent. “The electricity sector
remains the brightest spot for renewables with the exponential growth of solar photovoltaics and wind in
recent years, and building on the significant contribution of hydropower generation.” But, electricity
accounts for only a fifth of global energy consumption, and the role of renewables in the transportation
and heating sectors remains ____(A)____ to the energy transition. The global replacement of traditional
fuels with renewables led to around 1.8 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions being avoided last year –
the equivalent of removing the entire US transport system. According to the Wind and Solar Atlas, there
are opportunities and potential for Wind and Solar plants in the East and West Nile areas that will
produce around 31,150 MW from wind and 52,300 MW from solar. Egypt is also considering financing
options to conduct feasibility studies for building the world largest solar power plant for both electricity
generation and water desalination.
The UK has been performing well in clean energy generation, with recent figures showing wind and solar
sources had overtaken nuclear as suppliers of electricity. However, despite these positive trends, 2017
saw a big drop of 65 per cent in British renewables investment. Experts have criticised the withdrawal of
UK support for onshore wind, as previous analysis has demonstrated it already has the capacity to
outcompete fossil fuels as a power source.
As renewable energy prices continue to fall, however, Professor Moslener said government subsidies are
likely to become less and less important.
Q18. Which of the following facts are correct as per the given passage?
(I) The decrease in the cost of renewable energy resulted in its wide use.
(II) China massively supported solar power and became largest investor in renewable energy.
(III) Egypt is conducting feasibility studies for building largest solar power plant.
Team Lead