Low-Carbon Power: Monitor the Transition to Low Carbon Energy
Electricity in The World in 2022
Based on the 2022 data, more than half of the world's electricity consumption is still reliant on fossil fuels, with close to two-thirds, specifically 61%, made up of carbon-intensive sources like coal and gas. Among these, coal is the leading contributor, providing roughly 36% of the global electricity. Meanwhile, low-carbon energy sources, such as hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, solar, biofuels, and geothermal, make up 39% of our energy mix. Hydroelectricity seems to be the most used low-carbon source at 15%, closely followed by nuclear energy at approximately 9%. Other sources such as wind and solar contribute to roughly 8% and 4.5% respectively, while biofuels and geothermal sources represent a smaller fraction, making close to none contribution.
Suggestions
To increase the amount of low-carbon electricity generation globally, we can take cues from the successful strategies employed by various countries. For instance, France, Ukraine, and Slovakia have effectively utilized nuclear power to generate 61%, 58%, and 57% of their electricity respectively. Similarly, Denmark's leading contribution of wind power at 52% of its electricity production could serve as a viable model for wind energy optimisation. Examples like Ireland and Uruguay, where wind power contributes to 33% and 32% of their respective electricity mix, only strengthen this claim. Finally, exploring the potential of solar energy, as done in Chile and Yemen, where it accounts for 17% of their power, can also be beneficial for reducing global reliance on fossil fuels.
History
Historically, the use of low-carbon electricity has seen notable fluctuations. In the early 1980s, hydroelectric power saw a substantial increase with about 242 TWh in 1980, while the same decade witnessed a promising surge in nuclear power reaching as high as approximately 291 TWh in 1985. However, towards the end of the 20th century, the tables turned with a significant drop in nuclear energy, a dramatic decline of about 190 TWh by 2012. It was the early decades of the 21st century that became a turning point for wind and solar energy. Starting with a modest 177.5 TWh from wind in 2017, this sector has seen a steady increase, reaching a peak of nearly 295 TWh in 2022. Solar energy too saw a similar upward trend, with its contribution increasing from 142.3 TWh in 2020 to 253.6 TWh just two years later in 2022.