Low-Carbon Power: Monitor the Growth of Low Carbon Energy
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As of 2024, electricity consumption globally remains significantly reliant on fossil fuels, with more than half, approximately 59%, sourced from coal and gas. Coal remains the predominant fossil fuel at around 34%, while gas contributes close to 22% of the electricity mix. Clean, low-carbon energy sources, however, make up about 41% of the world's electricity production. Within this category, hydropower leads with nearly 15%, followed by nuclear energy at around 9%. Wind and solar power trail closely behind, each providing approximately 8% and 7%, respectively, with biofuels contributing about 2%. This diverse mix highlights the global efforts to transition towards cleaner electricity sources, though traditional fossil fuels still dominate.
Data sources used on this page include Ember, IEA, VisualizingEnergy and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in The World?
Electricity consumption per person has been increasing, indicating positive global growth. In 2024, the average electricity consumption reached a new peak of 3662 kWh per person, surpassing the previous record set in 2021 by 108 kWh per person. Even more promising is the rise in low-carbon electricity consumption, which has also seen growth, with the 2024 figures achieving 1511 kWh per person. This marks an increase of 103 kWh per person from 2023, showcasing a concerted effort to push forward with clean energy. Such increments underscore the importance of sustaining this upward trend to accommodate the increasing global demand for cleaner and more sustainable electricity.
Suggestions
To further enhance low-carbon electricity generation, countries can draw lessons from successful regions that effectively harness specific clean energy sources. For instance, France and Slovakia excel with over 65% of their electricity coming from nuclear power, while Denmark and several U.S. states like Iowa and South Dakota generate a significant portion from wind energy. These examples demonstrate the potential of major investments in nuclear and wind power infrastructure to substantially elevate a nation's clean electricity share. Emulating these models, particularly in nuclear and reportedly effective solar implementations like California's 31% solar contribution, can significantly bolster global low-carbon electricity supplies.
History
Historically, the evolution of low-carbon electricity generation has been marked by notable growth in nuclear and hydroelectric power, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s. For instance, both 1984 and 1985 saw substantial increases in nuclear electricity generation with over 187 TWh and 212 TWh added, respectively. The 1990s continued this trend with a massive surge in hydroelectric power output, achieving nearly 377 TWh in 1990 alone. Recent decades have witnessed a remarkable rise in wind and solar power, especially post-2010. Notably, in the early 2020s, solar and wind electricity generation surged, with particularly noteworthy increases in wind production in 2021 and solar leaps by 317 TWh in 2023. This steady growth in clean electricity generation underscores a promising path forward, emphasizing that encouraging policies and technological advancements further amplify the shift towards sustainable energy solutions. Low-carbon energy's evident expansion must continue unabated to sustain and accelerate the green transition.
