MADRID, 12 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Wind and solar energy reached the record figure of 12% of world electricity in 2022, compared to 10% in 2021, according to the latest ‘Global Electricity Review’ report prepared by the ‘think tank’ Ember.
The study, which includes data for 2022 from 78 countries, which account for 93% of global electricity demand, notes that the EU generated 22% of its electricity from wind and solar energy in 2022.
Thus, seven EU countries generated around a third or more of their electricity from wind and solar energy in 2022, including Germany (32%), Spain (33%) and the Netherlands (32%).
Specifically, solar was the fastest growing source of electricity for the 18th consecutive year, increasing 24% year-over-year and adding enough electricity to power all of South Africa.
For its part, wind generation grew by 17% in 2022, enough to supply almost the entire United Kingdom. According to the study data, more than sixty countries now generate more than 10% of their electricity from wind and solar power.
Together, all clean electricity sources (renewable and nuclear) accounted for 39% of global electricity, a new record.
Despite this progress, coal remained the largest source of electricity worldwide, producing 36% of the world’s electricity in 2022.
However, the growth of wind and solar generation in 2022 covered 80% of the increase in global electricity demand. Despite the global gas crisis and fears of a return to coal, it was that rise in wind and solar power that limited the rise in coal-fired generation (1.1%). Gas-fired power generation fell very slightly (-0.2%) in 2022.
Overall, that meant that electricity sector emissions still increased by 1.3% in 2022, reaching an all-time high. However, the report forecasts that last year may be the ‘peak’ of electricity emissions and the last year of growth for fossil energy, with clean energy covering all demand growth this year.
Thus, Ember analysts predict that, starting in 2023, wind and solar will push the world into a new era in reducing electricity generation with fossil fuels and, therefore, emissions from the electricity sector.
