As we power our way into the future, the staggering reality is that our planet now consumes over 620 exajoules of energy annually—a relentless climb driving both economic growth and record emissions, with profound inequities and a crucial clean energy shift unfolding across every sector.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global primary energy consumption reached 620 exajoules (EJ), marking a 1.1% increase from 2021
- Global final energy consumption in 2022 was approximately 420 EJ, with industry accounting for 37%
- Total global energy demand grew by 2.2% in 2023 to over 27,000 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe)
- Oil consumption dominated global energy at 31% share in 2022 with 99.9 million barrels per day (mb/d)
- Coal provided 26% of global primary energy in 2022, totaling 161 EJ, highest since 2013
- Natural gas consumption rose to 104 EJ in 2022, 23% of total, up 2.7% YoY
- China consumed 40% of global coal at 4,500 Mtoe in 2022
- United States oil consumption was 19 mb/d in 2022, 19% of world total
- EU-27 primary energy use fell 4% to 1,200 Mtoe in 2022 amid energy crisis
- Global primary energy consumption increased 50% from 159 EJ in 1980 to 239 EJ in 2000
- From 2010-2020, renewables share in primary energy rose from 10% to 14%
- Oil consumption grew from 80 mb/d in 2000 to 100 mb/d in 2022, peaking mid-2019
- Global energy consumption projected to rise 28% by 2040 to 750 EJ in STEPS scenario
- Renewables to supply 50% of electricity by 2030, up from 30% in 2023
- Oil demand peaks at 105 mb/d by 2028 then falls to 24 mb/d by 2050 in NZE
Global energy consumption continues to rise, but the transition to renewables is accelerating.
Consumption by Fuel Type
- Oil consumption dominated global energy at 31% share in 2022 with 99.9 million barrels per day (mb/d)
- Coal provided 26% of global primary energy in 2022, totaling 161 EJ, highest since 2013
- Natural gas consumption rose to 104 EJ in 2022, 23% of total, up 2.7% YoY
- Renewables (excl. hydro) reached 8.5% of primary energy in 2022 at 29 EJ, led by wind and solar
- Hydroelectricity contributed 15% of global electricity but 6% of primary energy at 37 EJ in 2022
- Nuclear energy supplied 4.3% of global primary energy, 26 EJ in 2022, stable post-Fukushima
- Bioenergy accounted for 10% of primary energy at 62 EJ in 2022, mostly traditional uses in developing nations
- Solar PV energy consumption grew 25% to 1.3 EJ in 2022, 0.2% of total primary energy
- Wind energy consumption hit 2.1 EJ in 2022, up 8%, representing 0.3% of global total
- Traditional biomass still comprised 55% of global bioenergy use at 34 EJ in 2022
- Global oil products consumption hit 103 mb/d in 2023
- Gas flaring contributed negligible but 140 bcm wasted in 2022
- Modern renewables grew 50% from 2020-2022 to 12% TFEC share
- Geothermal energy steady at 0.3% primary share, 1.9 EJ in 2022
- LPG consumption rose 3% to 300 Mt in 2022 globally
- Diesel fuel use in transport 35 mb/d in 2022
- Coke oven gas minor but 0.5 EJ in steel industry 2022
- Electricity from renewables 30% of total generation 8,200 TWh in 2022
Consumption by Fuel Type Interpretation
While fossil fuels still lord over the energy landscape like a trio of aging monarchs, the scrappy rebellion of modern renewables is starting to steal enough of the show to make their courtiers nervously check the exits.
Projections and Forecasts
- Global energy consumption projected to rise 28% by 2040 to 750 EJ in STEPS scenario
- Renewables to supply 50% of electricity by 2030, up from 30% in 2023
- Oil demand peaks at 105 mb/d by 2028 then falls to 24 mb/d by 2050 in NZE
- Coal consumption declines 10% by 2030 from 2022 levels per IEA APS
- Global electricity demand doubles to 60,000 TWh by 2050
- Energy efficiency saves 2.5% annual demand growth to 2040
- Solar and wind to 70% of power generation by 2050 in sustainable scenarios
- Hydrogen demand rises from 90 Mt to 500 Mt by 2050, 10% of energy
- Developing Asia drives 50% of energy demand growth to 2040
- Global final energy demand peaks by 2030 then falls 20% by 2050 in SDS
- Net Zero Emissions scenario sees energy demand flat post-2025
- EVs to displace 7 mb/d oil by 2030, rising to 40 mb/d 2050
- CCS captures 7.6 GtCO2/yr by 2050 needed for net zero
- Renewables capacity to triple to 11,000 GW by 2030 per pledges
- Heat pumps adoption doubles efficiency, saving 1 EJ/yr by 2030
- Critical minerals demand for clean tech x4 to 2050
- Africa energy demand doubles by 2040 to 1,400 Mtoe
- China energy peak before 2030, then decline 20% by 2060
- Direct air capture scales to 0.5 GtCO2/yr by 2050
- Digitalization cuts industry energy 10% by 2040 via AI
Projections and Forecasts Interpretation
It appears our species has finally decided to throw an epic, high-stakes energy party, where we'll desperately try to turn down the fossil fuel speakers and crank up the renewables playlist, all while scrambling to clean up the mess before the planetary bouncer kicks us out.
Regional Consumption Patterns
- China consumed 40% of global coal at 4,500 Mtoe in 2022
- United States oil consumption was 19 mb/d in 2022, 19% of world total
- EU-27 primary energy use fell 4% to 1,200 Mtoe in 2022 amid energy crisis
- India natural gas consumption reached 65 bcm in 2022, up 10%, 2% global share
- Africa total primary energy consumption was 700 Mtoe in 2022, 5% of world, mostly biomass
- Middle East oil consumption grew to 8.5 mb/d in 2022, driven by petrochemicals
- Japan electricity demand dropped 3% to 900 TWh in 2022 post-Fukushima restarts
- Brazil hydro share in electricity was 60% with 450 TWh consumption in 2022
- Russia gas exports fell but domestic use 500 bcm in 2022, 18% global consumption
- Southeast Asia energy demand up 4% to 1,000 Mtoe in 2022, coal-heavy
- China's coal consumption 57% global total at 91 EJ in 2022
- US total primary energy 94 quadrillion Btu (100 EJ equiv) in 2022
- Europe's gas consumption fell 12% to 340 bcm in 2022 due to crisis
- Saudi Arabia oil use 4 mb/d domestic in 2022
- Sub-Saharan Africa per capita energy 12 GJ, biomass 80% in 2022
- Australia's coal exports but domestic use 40 Mtoe in 2022
- Canada's oil sands consumption equivalent 3 mb/d in 2022
- South Korea electricity 550 TWh, nuclear 30% in 2022
- Indonesia coal power 60% electricity, total energy 300 Mtoe 2022
- Mexico gas imports but 50 bcm use in 2022
Regional Consumption Patterns Interpretation
The global energy story in 2022 was a chaotic play where China and the U.S. took commanding lead roles with coal and oil, while Europe shivered through an act of painful conservation, the developing world penned subplots of growth and biomass, and every region seemed to be reading from a different script on how to reach the final scene of a stable climate.
Temporal Trends
- Global primary energy consumption increased 50% from 159 EJ in 1980 to 239 EJ in 2000
- From 2010-2020, renewables share in primary energy rose from 10% to 14%
- Oil consumption grew from 80 mb/d in 2000 to 100 mb/d in 2022, peaking mid-2019
- Coal use doubled from 1970-2013 to 160 EJ before plateauing
- Electricity generation tripled from 10,000 TWh in 1985 to 29,000 TWh in 2022
- Global energy intensity (energy/GDP) fell 2% annually 2010-2022
- Natural gas share rose from 20% in 1990 to 24% in 2022
- Renewables capacity added 510 GW in 2023, highest ever, up from 200 GW in 2010
- Per capita energy use stagnated at 80 GJ since 2010 due to efficiency gains
- CO2 from energy doubled from 20 Gt in 1980 to 37 Gt in 2022
- Primary energy consumption up 82% from 1971-2021 globally
- Electricity access rose from 75% to 90% population 2000-2022
- Efficiency improvements cut energy intensity 35% since 1990
- Peak oil demand delayed from 2020 projection to 2030s
- Wind capacity from 17 GW 2000 to 900 GW 2022
- Solar PV costs fell 89% 2010-2022, boosting consumption
- Gas-to-coal switch reversed post-2015 shale boom
- Biomass modern use tripled 2000-2022 to 28 EJ
- Nuclear output flat at 2,500 TWh since 2010 despite capacity growth
- Transport fuel efficiency up 20% 2010-2022 in OECD
Temporal Trends Interpretation
The human race, in a breathless sprint of progress, has become remarkably efficient at burning the planet—but our addiction to fossil fuels is a stubborn houseguest who, despite the increasingly attractive clean energy alternatives we’ve laid out, keeps finding excuses to overstay its welcome.
Total Global Consumption
- In 2022, global primary energy consumption reached 620 exajoules (EJ), marking a 1.1% increase from 2021
- Global final energy consumption in 2022 was approximately 420 EJ, with industry accounting for 37%
- Total global energy demand grew by 2.2% in 2023 to over 27,000 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe)
- In 2021, world primary energy consumption totaled 580 EJ, up 5.5% from 2020 due to post-COVID recovery
- Global energy consumption per capita averaged 75 GJ in 2022, varying widely from 20 GJ in Africa to 200 GJ in North America
- Electricity accounted for 20% of global final energy use in 2022, totaling about 84 EJ
- Global energy-related CO2 emissions from consumption hit 37.4 Gt in 2022, linked to 620 EJ primary energy use
- In 2023, global primary energy supply was 179,379 TWh equivalent, per IEA tracking
- Total energy consumption grew 1% annually from 2010-2022, reaching 13.8 TW average power
- Global residential energy use was 28% of final consumption in 2022, about 118 EJ
- In 2022, global primary energy consumption per capita was 73.2 GJ/person, up 1% YoY
- Transport sector consumed 116 EJ or 29% of total final energy in 2022
- Industry final energy use was 156 EJ in 2022, 37% of total, chemicals leading
- Buildings sector energy demand 128 EJ in 2022, 30% of final consumption
- Global energy supply chain losses were 65% in 2022, from primary to final use
- Total global energy consumption equivalent to 4.1 TW continuous power in 2022
- Non-OECD countries consumed 53% of global energy in 2022, surpassing OECD
Total Global Consumption Interpretation
Humanity's energy appetite grew again last year, but in a race where we lose nearly two-thirds of the fuel between the tank and the wheels, the real story is that we're all running on the same treadmill—just with the gluttons and the paupers on wildly different speeds.
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