Now 50 countries have reached this level, including China and Japan for the first time last year, according to this 3rd Global Electricity Review, which compiles 2021 data from 75 countries.
Solar and wind infrastructure jointly produced more than 10% of the world’s electricity in 2021 for the first time, according to a report published Wednesday (March 30) by the Ember think tank. Now 50 countries have reached this level, including China and Japan for the first time last year, according to this 3rd Global Electricity Review, which compiles 2021 data from 75 countries, representing 93% of global demand.
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The Netherlands, Australia and Vietnam are experiencing the fastest transformation, with the share of solar and wind gaining ten points over the past two years. Ten countries derive more than a quarter of their current from these two resources, including Denmark 52%, Luxembourg 43%, Uruguay 47%. In all, 38% of the world’s electricity came in 2021 from decarbonized sources, nuclear included, the main renewable energy remaining hydroelectricity – dams.
But coal also generated 36%. Ember highlights the rebound of this energy, the most harmful to the climate, under the effect of the boom in post-Covid electricity demand. In fact, the production of coal-fired power plants experienced an unprecedented annual rebound in 2021 (+9%) since “at least 1985”with a record production of 10,042 TWh.
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If we add +1% due to gas, CO2 emissions linked to the electricity sector thus reached a peak last year, exceeding the record level of 2018 by 3%. However, to limit global warming to 1, 5°C compared to the pre-industrial era, the electricity sector will have to extend to new uses (transport, heating, etc.), and be completely carbon-free.
Wind and solar production grew by 17% in 2021, and will have to maintain an annual growth rate of 20% by 2030, underlines Ember.