Wind and solar generate over a tenth of the world’s electricity. Taken together, they are the fourth-largest source of electricity, behind coal, gas, and hydro. This infographic based on data from Ember shows the rise of electricity from these two clean sources over the last decade.
Europe leads in wind and solar
The year 2021 marked a significant milestone in the global energy landscape, as wind and solar power combined to generate 10.3% of the world’s electricity. This marked an increase from 9.3% in 2020 and represented a doubling of their share compared to 2015 when the Paris Climate Agreement was signed.
Remarkably, 50 countries, constituting 26% of nations, generated more than a tenth of their electricity from wind and solar sources in 2021. Seven countries achieved this milestone for the first time: China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Argentina, Hungary, and El Salvador.
Denmark and Uruguay emerged as leaders in technology for high renewable grid integration, with Denmark achieving 52% and Uruguay reaching 47% of their electricity generation from wind and solar, setting an example for others to follow in the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.
From a regional perspective, Europe leads with nine of the top 10 countries. On the flipside, the Middle East and Africa have the fewest countries reaching the 10% threshold.
Further renewables growth needed to meet global climate goals
Meeting global climate goals, particularly the targets set by the Paris Agreement to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius, requires significant and rapid growth in renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the electricity sector, which was the highest greenhouse gas-emitting sector in 2020, needs to achieve net-zero emissions worldwide by 2040 to align with the Paris Agreement’s objectives.
To reach this goal, wind and solar power must expand at an impressive rate of nearly 20% annually until 2030. However, despite the notable increase in renewable energy capacity, the growth in solar and wind electricity generation currently falls short of the levels required to meet the Paris Agreement’s ambitious targets.
In a concerning development, even during a year of unprecedented electricity demand in 2021, only 29% of the global increase in electricity demand was met with electricity generated from solar and wind sources. This underscores the pressing need for accelerated efforts and investments in renewable energy to transition away from fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector, a critical component of global climate action.
Transition underway
While emissions from the electricity sector are currently at record levels, there are encouraging signs that the global transition to cleaner energy sources is gaining momentum.
Several governments, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have ambitious plans to increase their share of clean electricity over the next 15 years.
Additionally, private sector companies such as Amazon and Apple are playing a significant role by making substantial investments in renewable energy. These companies are not only reducing their carbon footprint but also becoming some of the largest purchasers of renewable energy worldwide.
Wind and solar power are being integrated into grids at an unprecedented pace, with renewables expected to provide the bulk of the clean electricity required to phase out fossil fuels. This shift toward cleaner energy sources is a positive step forward in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Source: Ember and Visual Capitalist
