Last year was one for the books when it comes to clean energy generation. According to a report released by the environmental nonprofit Ember, solar power generation rose 23% worldwide in 2021 and wind power generation rose 14%, accounting for about 10% of the world’s power for that year. All clean energy sources, including solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear, accounted for 38% of the power generated in 2021, compared with 36% for coal. The report offers good news regarding the trajectory the world is on: It is possible to hit the goal of keeping global heating to 1.5 degrees C, thanks to wind and solar’s affordability and widespread use. Ember notes that three countries are already generating 40% of their energy through wind and solar. Globally, “wind and solar need to sustain high compound growth rates of 20% every year to 2030.”
Now for the bad news: Energy demand increased drastically from 2020 to 2021 and so, too, did coal power generation. Coal power hit an all-time high at 10,042 TWh (terawatt-hours)—2% higher than the previous record set in 2018. Last year also marked the highest increase in demand for coal power generation since 1985. Countries like China and India saw drastic upticks in coal power generation. In terms of gas generation, the amount increased globally by 1% in 2021 compared with 2020. Fossil fuel power generation increased to 62% in 2021, compared with 61% in 2020, marking the first year since 2012 that fossil fuel energy saw an uptick.
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This, in turn, has led to record-high emissions from the power sector, rising 7% from 2020 to 2021. The world is now emitting more greenhouse gases through the power sector than before the pandemic began. Fortunately, wind and solar power generation have doubled since the Paris Agreement was drafted and seems to be paving the way for a much-needed green energy transition. “Even as coal and power emissions hit another all-time high, there are clear signs that the global electricity transition is well underway,” Ember Global Lead Dave Jones said in a statement. “More wind and solar is being added to grids than ever. And not just in a few countries, but across the world. They are able—and expected—to provide the majority of clean electricity needed to phase out all fossil fuels, at the same time helping to increase energy security.”
Jones said clean power generation must be built “on a heroic scale.” As far as the U.S. is concerned, the country received 13% of its electricity from wind and solar generation in 2021. Unfortunately, 60% of its energy still comes from fossil fuels. It’s been a year since the Biden administration indicated it would jumpstart wind energy generation and the proposed FY2023 budget does allow for investments in both wind and solar. But much more can be done. Luckily, the president plans to invoke on Thursday the Defense Production Act in an effort to fund an industry critical to electric vehicles and large-capacity batteries.
Now for the bad news: Energy demand increased drastically from 2020 to 2021 and so, too, did coal power generation. Coal power hit an all-time high at 10,042 TWh (terawatt-hours)—2% higher than the previous record set in 2018. Last year also marked the highest increase in demand for coal power generation since 1985. Countries like China and India saw drastic upticks in coal power generation. In terms of gas generation, the amount increased globally by 1% in 2021 compared with 2020. Fossil fuel power generation increased to 62% in 2021, compared with 61% in 2020, marking the first year since 2012 that fossil fuel energy saw an uptick.
RELATED STORY: Solar panels and battery storage are the future of how the U.S. gets its power
This, in turn, has led to record-high emissions from the power sector, rising 7% from 2020 to 2021. The world is now emitting more greenhouse gases through the power sector than before the pandemic began. Fortunately, wind and solar power generation have doubled since the Paris Agreement was drafted and seems to be paving the way for a much-needed green energy transition. “Even as coal and power emissions hit another all-time high, there are clear signs that the global electricity transition is well underway,” Ember Global Lead Dave Jones said in a statement. “More wind and solar is being added to grids than ever. And not just in a few countries, but across the world. They are able—and expected—to provide the majority of clean electricity needed to phase out all fossil fuels, at the same time helping to increase energy security.”
Jones said clean power generation must be built “on a heroic scale.” As far as the U.S. is concerned, the country received 13% of its electricity from wind and solar generation in 2021. Unfortunately, 60% of its energy still comes from fossil fuels. It’s been a year since the Biden administration indicated it would jumpstart wind energy generation and the proposed FY2023 budget does allow for investments in both wind and solar. But much more can be done. Luckily, the president plans to invoke on Thursday the Defense Production Act in an effort to fund an industry critical to electric vehicles and large-capacity batteries.