Wind, solar generate record 12% of global electricity in 2022, marking new era of falling power emissions
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Wind, solar generate record 12% of global electricity in 2022, marking new era of falling power emissions
London (The Times Groupe) – The Global Electricity Review published Wednesday by independent think-tank Ember suggests wind and solar contributed 12% to global electricity generation in 2018.
Wind and solar generation are predicted to drive the world into a new era of falling fossil fuel generation and power sector emissions starting in 2023, according to the fourth annual report.
“In this decisive decade for the climate, it is the beginning of the end of the fossil age,” said Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, report author and Ember’s electricity analyst. “We are entering the clean power era.”
According to the report, 93% of global electricity demand is represented by 78 countries in 2022.
In 2022, wind will account for 7.6% of global electricity generation, up from 6.6% in 2021. Wind energy generation in the UK increased by 17% year-on-year, enough to power almost all of the country.
Last year, solar power generated 4.5% of the world’s electricity, up from 3.7% in 2021.
Adding enough electricity to power all of South Africa, solar power grew by 24% year-on-year for the 18th consecutive year.
China accounted for 37% of the growth in solar power’s share globally, while the US accounted for 17%.
The data shows that more than 60 countries now generate more than 10% of their electricity from wind and solar.
Compared to last year, wind and solar generation met 80% of the increase in global electricity demand, which reached 2.5%.
Countries with highest shares of wind and solar in electricity generation
With 418 terawatt-hours, or 4.7% of its electricity, China generated the most solar electricity last year.
Chile had the highest share of solar energy in its electricity output last year with 17%, followed by the Netherlands with 15% and 13%.
With a 9.3% wind share in its electricity mix, China is also the largest generator of wind power in the world, while Denmark has a 55% percentage share.
Last year, wind and solar contributed 22% to the European Union’s energy mix.
With about 15.5% of its electricity generated from wind and solar, Turkey remains above the global average.
Coal still largest electricity source with 36%
A new record high of 39% of global electricity was generated by all clean electricity sources combined. In terms of clean energy sources, hydro generated 15% of global electricity, followed by nuclear with 9%.
Despite record clean energy generation, fossil fuels still accounted for 61% of global electricity. In 2022, coal accounted for 36% of global electricity generation.
It was found that wind and solar generation limited the increase in coal generation by 1.1%.
Gas accounted for 22% of global electricity generation last year, a slight decrease by 0.2%.
Last year may be peak of power sector emissions
Last year, power sector emissions reached an all-time high of 1.3% due to the high share of coal and gas in global electricity generation. Power sector emissions rose last year despite record clean energy generation.
Ember calculated that last year’s emissions from the power sector would have been 20% higher if all electricity from wind and solar came from fossil fuels.
The report forecasts that 2022 may be the year of “peak” electricity emissions and the last year of fossil fuel growth.
As wind and solar deployment accelerates, there will be a drop in fossil generation of 0.3% this year.
“The stage is set for wind and solar to achieve a meteoric rise to the top. Clean electricity will reshape the global economy, from transport to industry and beyond. A new era of falling fossil emissions means the coal power phasedown will happen and the end of gas power is now within sight,” Wiatros-Motyka said.
“Change is coming fast. However, it all depends on the actions taken now by governments, businesses and citizens to put the world on a pathway to clean power by 2040.”
Global CO2 emissions are dominated by electricity generation, which accounts for about 40% of all energy-related emissions in 2021. Gas accounted for almost 25% of the power sector’s emissions in 2021, while coal accounted for 75%.
In order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the global electricity sector must first be decarbonized, and clean sources need to be deployed much faster than they were in the past.
“A total of 942 gigawatts of solar PV have been installed in the last decade, whereas 853 gigawatts of wind energy have been installed. According to Ajay Mathur, director general of the International Solar Alliance, “China, the United States, India and Japan have contributed the most to the global solar PV capacity.”
Solar and wind energy costs have decreased by 82% and 34%, respectively, while coal-fired energy has remained at similar levels and nuclear energy costs have increased by 61%.
“The global renewable share is increasing, but to achieve net zero by 2030, the renewable generation must cater to at least 60% of the total generation from renewables,” Mathur said, stressing that the way forward lies in pacing up renewable energy and making renewable energy technology a global public good. TIMES OF OCEAN
