A database for identifying and tracking renewable energy embodied in global trade

Yu Yang (), Yan Cheng, Jessie P. H. Poon, Yannan Zhou, Xiaoying Qian, Siyou Xia, Xiaochun Li, Jiashun Xue, Lu Zhang and Haiping Zhang
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Yu Yang: Beijing Normal University
Yan Cheng: CAS
Jessie P. H. Poon: University at Buffalo-SUNY
Yannan Zhou: University of Shanghai for Science and Technology
Xiaoying Qian: CAS
Siyou Xia: CAS
Xiaochun Li: CAS
Jiashun Xue: CAS
Lu Zhang: CAS
Haiping Zhang: CAS

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 10, 1223-1233

Abstract: Abstract Using more renewable energy to make exported goods helps reduce carbon emissions from global trade. However, current global trade databases often lack precise data on how much renewable energy is used to produce traded goods, limiting insights into how this is changing over time. To address this gap, we develop a renewable energy featured final energy account (RE-FEA) that quantifies final energy (electricity and non-electric energy products) directly consumed by end-use sectors. This dataset covers 145 countries, 163 sectors and annual data from 2011 to 2022. From the dataset, we estimate that the share of renewable energy embodied in exports over total embodied energy rose from 8% to 13% over the period. Cleaner energy exports are concentrated among high-income and upper-middle income countries and in light industry and material manufacturing. This dataset fills gaps in current Multi-Regional Input–Output data and can improve the understanding of how global trade impacts sustainability.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01614-9

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