Fossil Fuels Still Generate 57% of World's Electricity, Reports Confirm
Two reports, from the Energy Institute and Pew Research Center (analyzing Ember data), confirm that hydrocarbons (coal, gas, oil) still generate 57% of global electricity, down from 65% in 2000. Wind and solar now supply 17% of electricity, triple their share a decade ago, but nuclear power has declined from 17% to 9% since 2000. China leads in wind and solar capacity but remains the largest coal consumer and builder of new coal plants. The EU is an outlier, with 48% of its electricity from non-hydrocarbon sources. The reports highlight that despite rapid renewable expansion, global energy demand growth outpaces new generation capacity, forcing continued reliance on fossil fuels for baseload power. The analysis underscores the gap between installed capacity and actual consumption, particularly in China.
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Fossil Fuels Still Generate 57% of World's Electricity, Reports Confirm
Two reports, from the Energy Institute and Pew Research Center (analyzing Ember data), confirm that hydrocarbons (coal, gas, oil) still generate 57% of global electricity, down from 65% in 2000. Wind and solar now supply 17% of electricity, triple their share a decade ago, but nuclear power has declined from 17% to 9% since 2000. China leads in wind and solar capacity but remains the largest coal consumer and builder of new coal plants. The EU is an outlier, with 48% of its electricity from non-hydrocarbon sources. The reports highlight that despite rapid renewable expansion, global energy demand growth outpaces new generation capacity, forcing continued reliance on fossil fuels for baseload power. The analysis underscores the gap between installed capacity and actual consumption, particularly in China.