In 2022, solar and wind energy reached a record share of 12%
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The share of wind and solar energy in the global energy balance in 2022 increased to 12%, which was a record. A year earlier, this figure reached 10%, according to report British think tank Ember. In general, the production of all environmentally friendly sources of electricity (renewable and nuclear) in the world rose to a record 39% last year.
According to the report, solar energy production increased by 24%, wind energy – by 17%. Ember specifies that more than 60 countries generate more than 10% of their electricity from wind and solar. However, for the first time since 2011, energy production from other clean sources has decreased. This happened due to a decrease in the volume of nuclear production and a decrease in the number of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants put into operation.
Emissions in the energy sector also peaked at 1.3% for the year. Coal production increased by 1.1%, “in line with average growth over the past decade,” writes Ember. Experts believe that the phase-out of coal power may not have begun in 2022, but the energy crisis “did not lead to a significant increase in coal burning, as many feared.” It also recorded the fewest number of coal-fired power plant closures in seven years due to the desire of countries to maintain spare capacity.
Electricity generation on gas in 2022 decreased for the second time in three years and slightly – by only 0.2%. This was due to high world gas prices, analysts said in the report. Ember predicts that the first drop in fossil fuel generation could occur in 2023 or 2024.
European countries have accelerated the transition to green energy amid a reduction in gas supplies from Russia. By data Ember, in 2022, about 22% of electricity generated in the European Union (EU) came from solar and wind energy, which was the highest figure in the history of the EU. At the same time, energy generation through gas combustion accounted for 20%, which is 1 p.p. less than in 2021.
Read more in the material “Kommersant” “Sun and wind set records”.
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