Renewable energy sources met the entire increase in global electricity demand in the first half of this year, preventing a possible 4 percent increase in electricity generation from fossil fuels, 40 billion dollars in fuel costs and 230 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent increase in emissions.
The Global Electricity Half-Year Findings report, prepared by the energy think tank Ember by analyzing the data of 75 countries representing 90 percent of the global electricity demand, and comparing the first half of 2021-2022, has been announced. According to the report, global electricity demand increased by 389 terawatt hours (about 3 percent) in the first half of this year.
Electricity generation from wind, solar and hydropower grew by 416 terawatt hours (12 percent), outpacing the increase in global electricity demand. Electricity generation from wind and solar power increased by 300 terawatt hours in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, equaling 77 percent of the increase in global electricity demand. The increase in wind and solar power generation in China alone accounted for 92 percent of the increase in electricity demand, 81 percent in the USA and 23 percent in India.
Growth in electricity generation from wind and solar power accounted for three-quarters of the increase in global electricity demand in the first half of this year, with hydropower the rest.
Electricity generation from coal increased in EU and India
As a result of the growth in electricity generation from renewable energy sources, electricity generation from fossil fuels increased by only 0.1 percent. Electricity production from coal decreased by 36 terawatt hours (1 percent) and production from gas by 1 terawatt hour (0.05 percent) in the same period.
