Electricity in The World in 2023

In 2023, the world generated its electricity from a mix of fossil fuels and low-carbon sources. Fossils still dominate, producing around 60% of the electricity, with coal at nearly 34% and gas at about 19%. Low-carbon sources account for almost 40% of the global electricity mix. Hydropower is the most significant low-carbon contributor at around 14%, followed by nuclear energy at 9%, wind at 8%, solar at about 5%, and other low-carbon sources like geothermal and biofuels contributing a smaller percentage. Oil is used for approximately 1% of electricity generation, marking a minor share compared to other sources.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, countries can learn from the successful examples observed in several regions. For instance, France generates 65% of its electricity from nuclear power, while Slovakia achieves 62% and Ukraine follows closely at 55%. Denmark is a leader in wind energy, generating 53% of its electricity from wind. Emulating these countries, the world can invest more in nuclear and wind power infrastructures to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. For example, combining the robust nuclear programs of countries like France and Slovakia with Denmark’s wind success could provide a reliable and sustainable mix of low-carbon energy sources.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation shows significant growth, particularly in the past few decades. In the early 1980s, significant increases in hydro and nuclear power occurred, with hydro growing by almost 242 TWh in 1980 and nuclear expanding by over 200 TWh in the mid-1980s. However, the world saw a notable decline in nuclear generation in 2011, decreasing by nearly 174 TWh. Post-2010, there has been substantial growth in wind and solar power. From 2017 onward, wind energy consistently grew, with notable increases in 2020 and 2021. Solar power surged in 2021 and 2022, and notably, it witnessed the highest annual increase of 320 TWh in 2023. This trend underpins the significance of nuclear, wind, and solar power in the global transition to a low-carbon electricity future.

Data Sources