An international report revealed that electricity generation from wind and solar energy reached a record level, representing 12% of global electricity production in 2022, but it is still far behind fossil fuels, which is the largest source of electricity generation in the world, according to Ember is the independent think tank on climate and energy.
Renewable energy is gaining more support year after year to achieve carbon neutrality goals, but 2022 was de facto proof that clean sources must play a vital role in supporting energy security and independence.
Although the crisis of the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a rise in energy prices, it was also an opportunity to accelerate efforts to rely on renewable energy, such as wind and solar energy. Governments realized that they were long overdue in transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Ember studied electricity sector data from 78 countries in its annual report on electricity in the world, representing 93% of global demand for electricity.
The report concluded that renewable and nuclear energy sources together accounted for 39% of global electricity production last year, with an increase in the share of solar energy by 24% and wind energy by 17% compared to the previous year.
The war in Ukraine was a turning point and a major impetus for the promotion of renewable energy worldwide, especially Europe, which witnessed more ambitious transformations in its green policy. Despite rising costs and supply chain bottlenecks; The rising prices of fossil fuels and electricity resulting from the global energy crisis have made renewable energy technologies more economically attractive.
Towards renewable energy
The growth in electricity generation from solar and wind energy met 80% of the increase in global demand for electricity in 2022. The generation of this type of energy from coal-fired plants increased by 1.1%, while the generation of electricity from gas-fired plants decreased by 0.2% due to the increase in electricity generation. fuel prices.
The report said that although carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector increased by 1.3% last year, increased reliance on wind and solar energy contributed to slowing down the rate of rise. If all electricity generated from wind and solar energy did not exist, the emissions of the electricity sector would have increased by 20% in 2022.
As part of the push towards renewable energy, the European Union announced, in May 2022, the REPowerEU plan to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition.
In 2022, the European Union will produce 22% of its electricity from wind and solar power, with Spain, Germany and the Netherlands leading the way.
Renewable electricity generation in the European Union is expected to increase by 6% this year; Additions of solar and wind power are offsetting the strong decline in hydropower generation, according to the International Energy Agency.
In Asia, the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war encouraged Japan to restart and build more nuclear plants and expand low-emission vital technologies, and China continues to break records in renewable energy additions and the deployment of electric cars.
