Ember, a think tank specialising in the energy and climate sector, published its fourth annual Global Electricity Review on Wednesday 12 April, which includes data from the electricity sector in 78 countries representing 93% of global demand. The report highlights the progress of solar and wind power and says that “a new era of falling power sector emissions is close”, with “peak” emissions in 2022.
“It is clear that we are at the beginning of the end of fossil fuels”, explained Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a co-author of the report, at a press conference.
In 2022, the carbon intensity of global electricity generation was down to a record 436 gCO2/kWh, “the cleanest-ever electricity” produced. This is due to the growth of wind and solar power, which reached a record 12% of global electricity production, compared to 10% in 2021.
Strong growth in solar power generation
“Together, all clean electricity sources (renewables and nuclear) reached 39% of global electricity, a new record high”, the report continues. While wind generation increased by 17%, solar generation reached 24%, making it the fastest growing source of electricity in 18 years.
Nevertheless, emissions from the electricity sector increased by 1.3% in 2022, which is also a new record. If electricity becomes “cleaner”, we use more of it.
Less coal burnt than initially anticipated
Coal production increased by 1.1%, in line with the average growth over the last decade, with the energy crisis not leading to a major increase in coal burning, as many had feared.
Finally, gas power generation fell slightly, by 0.2%, for the second time in 3 years, against a backdrop of high gas prices in 2022.
Clean energy growth expected to outpace electricity demand growth
The growth in wind and solar generation alone (+557 TWh) met 80% of the growth in global electricity demand in 2022 (+694 TWh). 2023 is expected to be the first year outside of a recession where clean energy growth exceeds electricity demand growth.
Fossil fuel generation expected to decline as wind and solar power grow
Wind and solar power are actually slowing down the growth of emissions from the electricity sector.
For 2023, the authors of the report forecast “a small fall in fossil generation (-47 TWh, -0.3%), with bigger falls in subsequent years as wind and solar grow further”.
To see Ember’s report: https://aeur.eu/f/6ad (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)