60% of global electricity is generated from Fossil

Fossil energy, or energy derived from buried organic matter, forms a significant part of the human-made power system. This source of energy denotes substances like coal, petroleum, and natural gas that originated from decayed plants and animals which lived millions of years ago. They contain large amounts of carbon and hydrogen, and when combusted, they release energy. However, this traditional energy source is high in carbon intensity, a measure of the amount of carbon (in the form of CO2 emissions) released per unit of electricity consumed.

The generation of electricity from fossil energy involves a process called combustion. In power plants, fossil fuels are burned to boil water and generate steam, which spins a turbine connected to an electric generator. This generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. However, the process is not very efficient, and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil energy, on average, has a carbon intensity of 490 to 820 gCO2eq/kWh.

The shift towards low-carbon technology offers significant benefits. These technologies, such as nuclear, wind, and solar, reduce our dependency on high carbon intensity sources like fossil fuels. For example, nuclear energy has an average carbon intensity of just 12 gCO2eq/kWh. Wind power is even lower at 11 gCO2eq/kWh and solar, albeit higher, is significantly less carbon-intensive than fossil fuels with 45 gCO2eq/kWh.

Fossil fuels currently generate 60.36% of all electricity consumed globally, indicating a major dependence on this energy source. However, the transition toward low-carbon sources is likely to decrease this dependence. Countries that currently rely heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation, such as Bahrain (99%), Kuwait (100%), Qatar (100%), United Arab Emirates (89%), and Saudi Arabia (100%), would notably benefit from the gradual switch to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources like nuclear, wind, and solar.

Interest and investment in low-carbon technology have been growing as the world seeks cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions. The main advantage of these technologies is their lower carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels. Their deployment not only reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions significantly but also paves the way for a more sustainable energy system. By adopting low-carbon energy sources, countries have a concrete way to combat climate change and improve air quality.

In conclusion, while fossil energy continues to play a major role in global energy production, the shift towards low-carbon alternatives such as nuclear, solar, and wind energy is essential. These cleaner energy sources bear immense potential in decreasing global emissions and creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future.