With a remarkable surge that added more than 500 gigawatts of clean power in a single year, the 2022 global energy landscape vividly illustrates a world at a pivotal turning point where the explosive growth of renewables is beginning to reshape our electricity systems.
Key Takeaways
- Global renewable energy capacity grew by 10.3% in 2022 to reach 3,372 GW, driven by solar PV additions of 269 GW
- Solar photovoltaic capacity worldwide increased by 22% in 2022, adding 269 GW to reach 1,053 GW total
- Wind power capacity reached 899 GW globally in 2022, with onshore wind contributing 837 GW and offshore 62 GW
- Global coal production reached 8.77 billion tonnes in 2022, up 3.7% from 2021, led by China and India
- Coal use in power generation hit 8,630 TWh globally in 2022, 36% of electricity mix
- Natural gas production grew 3.6% to 4,088 bcm in 2022, with US as top producer at 1,041 bcm
- Global nuclear electricity generation reached 2,656 TWh in 2022, 9.2% of total
- There were 413 operable nuclear reactors worldwide in 2022 with 370 GWe capacity
- US had 93 reactors operating at 94.7 GWe in 2022, generating 778 TWh
- Global primary energy demand grew 1% to 620 EJ in 2022
- Electricity demand increased 2.5% to 27,873 TWh globally in 2022
- China consumed 36% of global primary energy in 2022 at 223 EJ
- World primary energy production increased 1.4% to 627 EJ in 2022
- Renewables primary energy production hit 81 EJ in 2022, 13% of total, up 5.7%
- Coal production was 164 EJ equivalent in 2022, 26% of primary energy
Renewable energy growth accelerated rapidly in 2022, led by record solar and wind additions.
Energy Consumption Patterns
1Global primary energy demand grew 1% to 620 EJ in 2022
Verified2Electricity demand increased 2.5% to 27,873 TWh globally in 2022
Verified3China consumed 36% of global primary energy in 2022 at 223 EJ
Verified4US energy consumption was 94 EJ in 2022, 15% of world total
Directional5India primary energy use rose 4.5% to 40 EJ in 2022, coal dominant at 47%
Single source6EU-27 energy demand fell 3.9% to 72 EJ in 2022 due to efficiency and prices
Verified7Per capita energy consumption was 77 Mtoe in US vs 21 Mtoe in China in 2022
Verified8Transport sector used 116 EJ globally in 2022, 29% of total energy
Verified9Buildings sector consumed 120 EJ or 30% of global energy in 2022
Directional10Industry energy demand grew 2.6% to 280 EJ in 2022, chemicals leading
Single source11Final electricity consumption rose 1.9% to 22,500 TWh in 2022 worldwide
Verified12Residential electricity use increased 2.3% in 2022, driven by cooling demand
Verified13Commercial sector electricity grew 2.1% to 4,200 TWh in 2022 globally
Verified14Energy intensity of GDP improved 1.2% globally in 2022 to 4.9 toe/1,000 USD
Directional15China's energy intensity fell 3% in 2022 amid industrial slowdown
Single source16Global final energy intensity declined 1% in 2022 despite demand growth
Verified17Heat pump sales surged 11% to 10 million units globally in 2022
Verified18EV sales reached 10.2 million globally in 2022, 14% of car sales
Verified19Global electricity final consumption by sector: industry 42%, residential 27% in 2022
DirectionalEnergy Consumption Patterns Interpretation
The planet's energy meter is spinning faster overall, but with China powering the industrial marathon, America cruising in a gas-guzzler per capita, Europe reluctantly tightening its belt, and India still married to coal, it's a race where everyone is running in very different shoes.
Energy Production Statistics
1World primary energy production increased 1.4% to 627 EJ in 2022
Verified2Renewables primary energy production hit 81 EJ in 2022, 13% of total, up 5.7%
Verified3Coal production was 164 EJ equivalent in 2022, 26% of primary energy
Verified4Oil production totaled 179 EJ or 28% of primary energy in 2022 globally
Directional5Natural gas output reached 140 EJ, 22% share in 2022 worldwide
Single source6Nuclear heat production was 27 EJ in 2022, 4% of total primary energy
Verified7Hydro primary energy was 17 EJ, traditional biomass 23 EJ in 2022 globally
Verified8Wind energy production equivalent was 7.5 EJ in 2022, solar 4.6 EJ
Verified9US total primary energy production record 103 EJ in 2022, led by natural gas
Directional10China produced 202 EJ primary energy in 2022, coal 60% share
Single source11Russia oil production 11.1 mb/d, gas 616 bcm in 2022 despite sanctions
Verified12Saudi Arabia oil output averaged 10.6 mb/d in 2022 as swing producer
Verified13Canada oil sands production hit 3.3 mb/d in 2022
Verified14Global electricity production totaled 28,466 TWh in 2022, up 2.5%
Directional15Low-carbon sources produced 39% of electricity in 2022, renewables 29%, nuclear 9%
Single source16Fossil fuels generated 60% of global electricity in 2022 at 17,058 TWh
Verified17China electricity production 8,769 TWh in 2022, coal 62% share
Verified18US generated 4,243 TWh electricity in 2022, natural gas 40%
Verified19Global capacity additions totaled 510 GW in 2022, 84% renewables
DirectionalEnergy Production Statistics Interpretation
Here we stand in 2022, a world still powered overwhelmingly by the ancient triumvirate of coal, oil, and gas, but with one hopeful foot tentatively placed in the future as renewables, for the first time, account for the overwhelming majority of our new power capacity.
Fossil Fuel Energy
1Global coal production reached 8.77 billion tonnes in 2022, up 3.7% from 2021, led by China and India
Verified2Coal use in power generation hit 8,630 TWh globally in 2022, 36% of electricity mix
Verified3Natural gas production grew 3.6% to 4,088 bcm in 2022, with US as top producer at 1,041 bcm
Verified4Oil demand recovered to 99.7 mb/d in 2022, with transportation fuels at 47 mb/d
Directional5Global oil supply averaged 99.4 mb/d in 2022, OPEC+ contributing 39 mb/d
Single source6Coal reserves stood at 1,074 billion tonnes globally in 2022, US holding 22%
Verified7Proven oil reserves were 1,732 billion barrels in 2022, Venezuela with largest at 303 billion
Verified8Natural gas reserves totaled 187 trillion cubic meters in 2022, Russia leading at 38 tcm
Verified9Coal consumption rose 1.1% to 8,632 TWh for electricity in 2022, China at 5,800 TWh
Directional10Natural gas generated 6,082 TWh electricity globally in 2022, 23% of total
Single source11Oil-fired power was minimal at 1,000 TWh in 2022, mostly in Middle East
Verified12China consumed 4.1 billion tonnes coal in 2022, 56% of global total
Verified13US shale gas production hit 825 bcm in 2022, 80% of total US gas output
Verified14LNG trade volume reached 404 mt in 2022, up 6.6% from 2021
Directional15Global oil refinery throughput averaged 81.5 mb/d in 2022
Single source16Coal prices peaked at USD 400/tonne in 2022 before falling to USD 190 by year-end
Verified17Natural gas prices in Europe averaged USD 30/MMBtu in 2022, up 5x from 2021
Verified18Brent crude oil price averaged USD 100/bbl in 2022, highest since 2014
VerifiedFossil Fuel Energy Interpretation
Despite the world's earnest promises to transition to cleaner energy, 2022 proved we're still stubbornly shoveling coal, guzzling gas, and thirsting for oil, with the numbers showing a fossil-fueled reality that's both booming and astronomically expensive.
Nuclear Energy
1Global nuclear electricity generation reached 2,656 TWh in 2022, 9.2% of total
Verified2There were 413 operable nuclear reactors worldwide in 2022 with 370 GWe capacity
Verified3US had 93 reactors operating at 94.7 GWe in 2022, generating 778 TWh
Verified4France generated 320 TWh nuclear electricity in 2022 from 56 reactors, 64% of its mix
Directional5China commissioned 8 new reactors in 2022, adding 7.8 GWe to reach 55 GWe total
Single source6Nuclear capacity factor averaged 82.3% globally in 2022, highest among baseload sources
Verified7Uranium production was 48.3 ktU in 2022, Kazakhstan supplying 43%
Verified8Proven uranium resources totaled 6.18 MtU recoverable at <USD 130/kgU in 2022
Verified9Small modular reactors (SMRs) under construction numbered 6 globally in 2022, mostly in Russia and China
Directional10Nuclear fusion research achieved 59 MJ energy gain for 5.2 s at NIF in Dec 2022
Single source11Global nuclear R&D spending was USD 5.2 billion in 2022, led by US and France
Verified12Lifetime nuclear extension added 4.7 GWe capacity by 2022 in OECD countries
Verified13Finland's Olkiluoto 3 (1.6 GWe) started commercial operation in 2023 after 2022 grid connection
Verified14UAE's Barakah 4 (5.6 GWe total) entered commercial operation in 2024 following 2022 fuel load
Directional15Nuclear share in electricity was 17% in EU in 2022, down due to French outages
Single source16Japan's 33 reactors generated 71 TWh in 2022, 7.5% of electricity post-Fukushima
VerifiedNuclear Energy Interpretation
Despite impressive and growing global generation, nuclear energy remains a powerful yet precarious workhorse, reliably producing nearly 10% of the world's electricity with enviable efficiency while navigating a tightrope of geopolitical supply chains, aging fleets, and a future dependent on both extending old plants and successfully building new ones.
Renewable Energy Sources
1Global renewable energy capacity grew by 10.3% in 2022 to reach 3,372 GW, driven by solar PV additions of 269 GW
Verified2Solar photovoltaic capacity worldwide increased by 22% in 2022, adding 269 GW to reach 1,053 GW total
Verified3Wind power capacity reached 899 GW globally in 2022, with onshore wind contributing 837 GW and offshore 62 GW
Verified4Hydropower capacity stood at 1,296 GW worldwide in 2022, accounting for 39% of total renewable capacity
Directional5Bioenergy capacity was 150 GW in 2022 globally, with modern bioenergy providing 7.5% of total primary energy supply
Single source6Geothermal power capacity reached 15.6 GW in 2022, concentrated in countries like the US, Indonesia, and Turkey
Verified7Concentrated solar power (CSP) capacity was 7.6 GW globally in 2022, with China leading recent additions
Verified8Ocean energy capacity remained at 0.6 GW in 2022, primarily tidal and wave technologies in pilot stages
Verified9China held 1,457 GW of renewable capacity in 2022, over 43% of global total, led by hydropower and wind
Directional10Europe (EU-27+UK+NO+CH) had 743 GW renewable capacity in 2022, with wind and solar dominating growth
Single source11Asia excluding China added 85 GW renewables in 2022, reaching 337 GW total capacity
Verified12US renewable capacity hit 394 GW in 2022, with solar growing 37% year-over-year
Verified13India reached 170 GW renewables in 2022, targeting 500 GW by 2030
Verified14Brazil's hydropower dominated at 110 GW in 2022, with wind additions of 3.5 GW
Directional15Offshore wind capacity grew 25% to 62 GW globally in 2022, led by China and UK
Single source16Utility-scale solar PV costs fell 12% in 2022 to USD 0.049/kWh globally
Verified17Onshore wind LCOE averaged USD 0.033/kWh in 2022, down 3% from prior year
Verified18Fixed-bottom offshore wind LCOE was USD 0.075/kWh in 2022, with cost reductions in mature markets
Verified19Hydropower LCOE remained stable at USD 0.061/kWh in 2022 across regions
Directional20Global solar PV module prices dropped 31% in 2022 to USD 0.11/Wp
Single source21Renewables generated 29.3% of global electricity in 2022, up from 28.1% in 2021
Verified22Wind power share of electricity reached 7.4% globally in 2022
Verified23Solar electricity generation grew 24% to 1,334 TWh in 2022 worldwide
Verified24Hydropower produced 4,240 TWh in 2022, 15% of global electricity despite droughts
Directional25Bioenergy contributed 630 TWh to global electricity in 2022, stable year-over-year
Single sourceRenewable Energy Sources Interpretation
The sun and wind are staging a delightful coup, with solar leading the charge at a bargain-basement price, while hydropower remains the stalwart heavyweight; however, China is currently hosting the victory party, holding over 43% of the global renewable crown.
Sources & References
- Reference 1IRENAirena.orgVisit source
- Reference 2EMBER-CLIMATEember-climate.orgVisit source
- Reference 3IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 4BPbp.comVisit source
- Reference 5EIAeia.govVisit source
- Reference 6WORLD-NUCLEARworld-nuclear.orgVisit source
- Reference 7WWW-PUBwww-pub.iaea.orgVisit source
- Reference 8LASERSlasers.llnl.govVisit source