"Electricity Consumption Outpaces Renewable Energy Growth
Carbon Emissions Continue to Rise"
Last year, the share of clean energy produced without burning fossil fuels surpassed 40% of the world's total power generation. In particular, solar power led the growth of clean energy.
According to the British BBC broadcast on the 8th (local time), the global energy think tank Ember announced in a report released that day that the share of clean energy, including solar, hydro, wind, and nuclear power, accounted for 40.9% of global electricity production last year.
This is the first time since the 1940s, when hydroelectric power made up most of the share, that the proportion of power generation without burning fossil fuels has exceeded 40%. By type, hydroelectric power accounted for the largest share at 14%, nuclear power 9%, and wind power about 8%.
The share of solar power was slightly below 7%, but it has recently shown the fastest growth rate. According to the report, global solar power generation has doubled every three years since 2012. Phil MacDonald, director of Ember, said, "Solar power has become the 'engine' of the global energy transition."
However, despite the increased share of clean energy, total electricity consumption also rose, revealing that carbon emissions are still on the rise. According to the report, global electricity consumption increased by 4% compared to the previous year. During the same period, power generation using fossil fuels also increased by 1.4%, and greenhouse gas emissions reached an all-time high.
BBC reported, "The rate of increase in global electricity demand has outpaced the growth of renewable energy, so greenhouse gas emissions have not decreased," adding, "Over the past five years, rapidly growing Asian economies such as India and China have continued to expand fossil fuel use to meet surging electricity demand."
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