While the world's energy appetite grows relentlessly, hitting a staggering 627 exajoules in 2023, the story of who uses it, how, and where reveals a planet of starkly contrasting realities.
Key Takeaways
- Global primary energy consumption in 2022 was 604 exajoules (EJ), a 1% increase from 2021.
- World total energy demand grew by 0.9% in 2023 to 627 EJ, driven by emerging economies.
- Between 2012 and 2022, global energy consumption increased by 21%, reaching 580 EJ in 2021.
- US households consumed 77 million Btu of energy per household on average in 2020.
- Residential sector accounted for 20.5% of US primary energy use in 2022.
- In the EU, residential energy use was 26% of final energy in 2021, 1,200 TWh electricity.
- Industrial sector used 37% of global final energy in 2022, 170 EJ.
- US manufacturing energy consumption: 32.1 quadrillion Btu in 2022.
- Chemicals industry 30% of industrial energy in EU, 15 EJ.
- Transport sector global final energy 28% or 105 EJ in 2022.
- Road vehicles 75% transport energy, 80 EJ oil-based.
- US transportation 29% primary energy, 27 quads in 2022.
- Electricity generation consumed 40% primary energy globally in 2022, 240 EJ.
- US electricity retail sales 4,243 billion kWh in 2022.
- Renewables generated 29% global electricity in 2022, 8,300 TWh.
Global energy consumption grew last year but still relies heavily on fossil fuels.
Electricity Generation and Use
- Electricity generation consumed 40% primary energy globally in 2022, 240 EJ.
- US electricity retail sales 4,243 billion kWh in 2022.
- Renewables generated 29% global electricity in 2022, 8,300 TWh.
- Coal-fired power 35% world electricity, 10,000 TWh 2022.
- Natural gas 23% global power generation, 6,200 TWh.
- Hydro 15% electricity worldwide, 4,200 TWh in 2022.
- Nuclear 9% global electricity, 2,500 TWh from 440 GW.
- Solar PV capacity added 300 GW globally in 2023.
- Wind power 7.8% electricity in EU 2022, 500 TWh.
- China electricity generation 9,000 TWh total in 2022.
- US grid losses 5% transmission/distribution, 200 TWh.
- India power demand 1,500 TWh, coal 75% generation.
- Japan post-Fukushima nuclear 7% electricity 2022.
- Germany Energiewende: renewables 52% electricity 2023.
- Brazil hydro 60% electricity, drought hit 50% in 2021.
- France nuclear 70% electricity, 380 TWh in 2022.
- South Africa Eskom coal 85% power, load shedding impact.
- Global data centers electricity 1-1.5% total, 240-460 TWh.
- Battery storage added 45 GW globally in 2023.
- Residential electricity share 27% global final use 2022.
Electricity Generation and Use Interpretation
Despite our grand ambitions for a renewable revolution, the global electricity story in 2022 remained a stubbornly fossil-fueled epic, where coal and gas still commanded a 58% share of the stage while renewables, though growing courageously, were still waiting in the wings for their true starring role.
Global Energy Consumption
- Global primary energy consumption in 2022 was 604 exajoules (EJ), a 1% increase from 2021.
- World total energy demand grew by 0.9% in 2023 to 627 EJ, driven by emerging economies.
- Between 2012 and 2022, global energy consumption increased by 21%, reaching 580 EJ in 2021.
- In 2021, fossil fuels accounted for 80.2% of global primary energy consumption.
- Global final energy consumption by sector in 2022: industry 37%, transport 28%, buildings 28%.
- Per capita primary energy consumption worldwide averaged 78 GJ/person in 2022.
- Asia accounted for 52% of global energy consumption in 2022 at 312 EJ.
- OECD countries' share of global energy use fell to 45% in 2022 from 55% in 2000.
- Global energy intensity (energy per GDP) improved by 1.8% in 2022.
- Total energy supply globally was 14.5 Gtoe in 2021, equivalent to 606 EJ.
- Non-OECD energy consumption grew 3.5% in 2022 to 335 EJ.
- Global electricity consumption reached 27,000 TWh in 2022, up 2.3%.
- Primary energy consumption per capita in the US was 277 million Btu in 2022.
- World energy consumption from oil was 99.1 million b/d in 2022.
- Natural gas supplied 24% of global primary energy in 2022 at 144 EJ.
- Coal consumption hit 8,142 Mtce globally in 2022, 164 EJ equivalent.
- Renewables (excl. hydro) share of primary energy rose to 7.5% in 2022.
- Hydro power contributed 15 EJ to global primary energy in 2022.
- Nuclear energy provided 4.3% of global primary energy at 26 EJ in 2022.
- Global energy-related CO2 emissions from consumption were 36.8 Gt in 2022.
- Energy consumption growth slowed to 1% in 2022 post-COVID rebound.
- China consumed 171 EJ of primary energy in 2022, 28% of world total.
- US primary energy use was 93.59 quadrillion Btu (100 EJ) in 2022.
- EU27 energy consumption fell 3% in 2022 to 72 EJ amid energy crisis.
- India’s energy demand grew 4.2% in 2022 to 40 EJ.
- Russia consumed 31 EJ in 2022, with high per capita at 217 GJ/person.
- Middle East energy use up 2.8% to 42 EJ in 2022.
- Africa’s share of global energy was 5.6% at 34 EJ in 2022.
- Latin America consumed 32 EJ in 2022, 5% of global total.
- Global energy consumption decoupled from GDP growth at 2.1% GDP vs 1% energy in 2022.
Global Energy Consumption Interpretation
While the world’s energy diet remains stubbornly addicted to fossil fuels, the good news is we're starting to get more miles to the gallon as a planet, but the bad news is we're still joyriding in the wrong car on the road to a climate crisis.
Industrial Sector
- Industrial sector used 37% of global final energy in 2022, 170 EJ.
- US manufacturing energy consumption: 32.1 quadrillion Btu in 2022.
- Chemicals industry 30% of industrial energy in EU, 15 EJ.
- China industrial energy 50% of total, 85 EJ in 2022.
- Steel production consumes 8% of global energy, 500 TWh electricity.
- Cement industry global energy use: 10 EJ annually, 7% total industrial.
- Aluminum smelting 3% world electricity, 1,000 TWh/year.
- Pulp and paper sector energy intensity: 15 GJ/tonne in OECD.
- India industrial energy 45% total, iron/steel 25% of that.
- Japan manufacturing energy per GDP unit down 2% YoY 2022.
- Germany industry 42% final energy, chemicals top at 25%.
- South Korea petrochemicals 40% industrial energy use.
- Brazil industrial share 55% final energy, mostly liquids.
- Russia heavy industry energy: 60% coal/gas in metallurgy.
- Saudi petrochemicals growing 10% energy use to 2 EJ.
- US petroleum refining 46% industrial fuel use in 2022.
- Global iron/steel energy intensity improved 1.5%/year to 17 GJ/t.
- Textiles industry energy 4% global industrial, 2 EJ.
- Food processing 10% US manufacturing energy.
- Mining energy use 8% industrial, diesel dominant.
- Glass production 2% industrial energy, 1 EJ global.
- Non-metallic minerals 12% EU industrial energy.
- Electronics/semiconductors <1% but high electricity intensity.
- Global industrial electricity use 40% total, 10,000 TWh.
Industrial Sector Interpretation
While industry greedily consumes nearly half of the world's energy to make our stuff, a stubbornly heavy thirst for chemicals, steel, and brute-force manufacturing means the global engine room still runs on brute force, with electricity struggling to plug a leaky efficiency bucket.
Residential Sector
- US households consumed 77 million Btu of energy per household on average in 2020.
- Residential sector accounted for 20.5% of US primary energy use in 2022.
- In the EU, residential energy use was 26% of final energy in 2021, 1,200 TWh electricity.
- Average US home uses 10,500 kWh electricity annually, 29 kWh/day.
- Space heating represents 42% of residential energy in cold climates like Northeast US.
- In China, urban households consumed 2,500 kWh electricity per capita in 2022.
- UK homes used 3,500 kWh electricity and 9,000 kWh heat in 2022 average.
- Japan residential final energy use per capita: 1.4 toe (58 GJ) in 2021.
- India residential electricity consumption grew 7% to 1,200 TWh in FY2022.
- In Australia, households account for 25% of electricity use, 60 TWh annually.
- German homes use 3,500 kWh electricity/year, 70% for appliances/heating.
- Canadian residential energy intensity: 120 GJ/m² floor area in 2019.
- Brazil residential sector 23% of electricity, 120 TWh in 2022.
- France residential energy: 40% heating, average 7,000 kWh equiv./home.
- South Korea homes consume 4,200 kWh electricity/capita/year 2022.
- Saudi Arabia residential AC use peaks at 70 GW summer demand.
- Mexico households 22% of final energy, 15% electricity at 50 TWh.
- Russia residential gas use: 200 m³/home/year average in urban areas.
- Italy homes energy 35% final consumption, mostly gas for heating.
- Spain residential electricity 28% of total, 100 TWh in 2022.
- Sweden efficient homes: 100 kWh/m²/year total energy.
- Turkey residential share 25% electricity, growth 5% YoY.
- Indonesia homes 35% electricity, subsidized at 50 TWh.
- Nigeria residential biomass dominant, 80% of household energy.
- US residential natural gas use: 4.75 trillion cf in 2022.
- Global residential sector final energy use: 105 EJ in 2022.
Residential Sector Interpretation
From heating homes in the cold to cooling them in the desert, the global residential energy appetite is a colossal and varied beast, devouring roughly a fifth of the world's energy pie and revealing that how we power our private lives is a defining public challenge.
Transportation Sector
- Transport sector global final energy 28% or 105 EJ in 2022.
- Road vehicles 75% transport energy, 80 EJ oil-based.
- US transportation 29% primary energy, 27 quads in 2022.
- Aviation kerosene use 280 Mt globally in 2022.
- Global shipping energy 3 EJ bunker fuels in 2022.
- China road transport energy 15 EJ, 70% diesel/gasoline.
- EU transport 32% final energy, cars 50% of that.
- India transport growth 6% to 8 EJ, road dominant.
- US light-duty vehicles 60% transport energy, 15 quads.
- Japan rail energy efficient at 0.1 MJ/pass-km.
- Brazil ethanol flex-fuel 25% light vehicle energy.
- Russia pipeline gas transport 10% energy loss equivalent.
- Africa road freight 90% transport energy, inefficient.
- Global EV energy use reached 100 TWh in 2022.
- Airline fuel efficiency improved 2%/year to 3.5 L/100km pax.
- US freight trucks 25% transport energy, 7 quads diesel.
- Container ships 80% bunker fuel, 200 Mt/year.
- Rail global 2% transport energy but 8% freight ton-km.
- Middle East aviation 5% energy use, Dubai hub 50 Mt fuel.
- Australia road 85% transport, mining haul trucks high diesel.
- Global transport CO2 8 Gt, 25% total emissions 2022.
Transportation Sector Interpretation
Transport, our global circulatory system, moves a planet largely powered by road-bound oil-addiction, spiking emissions to unsustainable levels even as it makes efficient strides with trains, EVs, and better planes.
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