The annual global electricity review by energy think tank Ember indicates that the amount of electricity and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants likely peaked in 2023. This suggests that human civilization has passed a key turning point, with countries unlikely to generate as much electricity from fossil fuels again. The report shows that a record 30 percent of electricity globally came from renewable sources of energy in the same year, mainly due to the growth in solar and wind power. As a result, pollution from the power sector is expected to start decreasing, with a 2 percent drop in fossil fuel-powered electricity projected for 2024 and a further decline expected in the long term.
Ember’s insights director, Dave Jones, describes 2023 as a major turning point in the history of energy, with the decline of power sector emissions now inevitable. However, the pace of this transition will depend on how quickly the renewables revolution continues to progress. The report highlights that the US, the world’s biggest gas producer, used record amounts of gas in 2023, preventing a global decline in electricity generation from gas. The US’s heavy reliance on gas is due to replacing aging coal-fired power plants with gas-fired ones, rather than opting for carbon pollution-free alternatives. This implies that the US has a significant challenge ahead to transition to a truly clean power system.
The US’s reliance on fossil fuels is further emphasized by the fact that it only gets 23 percent of its electricity from renewable energy, below the global average of 30 percent. Former UN executive secretary Christiana Figueres notes that outdated technologies can no longer compete with the growing innovations and decreasing costs in renewable energy and storage solutions. Ember’s report aligns with predictions from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which declared a transition to clean energy as unstoppable. The IEA forecasts a peak in global demand for coal, gas, and oil this decade, not just for electricity use. It also projects that renewables will make up nearly 50 percent of the world’s electricity mix by 2030, indicating a significant shift towards cleaner energy sources.
Overall, the data presented by Ember suggests a positive trend towards a cleaner and more sustainable electricity sector globally. The decline in fossil fuel-powered electricity, the growth in renewable energy sources, and projections for increased adoption of clean energy all signal a potential shift in the energy landscape. While challenges remain, such as the US’s continued reliance on gas and slow adoption of renewables, the momentum towards a more sustainable energy future appears to be gaining traction. The transition to cleaner energy sources is seen as essential in combating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with renewable energy playing a crucial role in achieving these goals.