Despite setting a staggering new record of over 28,000 terawatt-hours globally in 2022, the world's power grids are undergoing a seismic shift, racing to swap coal for clean energy as nations reveal vastly different blueprints for the future.
Key Takeaways
- Global electricity generation totaled 28,471 TWh in 2022, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021 driven by economic recovery.
- Installed renewable capacity worldwide reached 3,372 GW by end of 2022, with solar PV adding 269 GW that year alone.
- Coal-fired power plant capacity in China stood at 1,140 GW in 2022, accounting for over 50% of national total.
- Global electricity generation from coal was 10,000 TWh in 2022.
- Renewables generated 8,184 TWh globally in 2022, 29% of total.
- US net electricity generation hit 4,178 billion kWh in 2022.
- Global coal share in electricity mix was 35% in 2022.
- Renewables share reached 30% of global electricity in 2022.
- US natural gas 40% of generation mix in 2022.
- Global power sector CO2 emissions 14.5 Gt in 2022.
- Coal power emitted 10 Gt CO2 globally in 2022.
- US power sector emissions fell 7% to 1.5 billion metric tons in 2022.
- Global power investment $1.1 trillion in 2022.
- Renewables attracted $495 billion investment in 2022.
- US power sector capex $100 billion annually.
Global electricity generation is rising but still dominated by coal despite rapid renewable growth.
Capacity and Installed Base
- Global electricity generation totaled 28,471 TWh in 2022, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021 driven by economic recovery.
- Installed renewable capacity worldwide reached 3,372 GW by end of 2022, with solar PV adding 269 GW that year alone.
- Coal-fired power plant capacity in China stood at 1,140 GW in 2022, accounting for over 50% of national total.
- US total utility-scale electricity generating capacity was 1,187 GW as of 2022, with natural gas at 43% share.
- India's installed power capacity hit 410 GW by March 2023, renewables contributing 41%.
- Europe (EU-27) had 1,200 GW installed capacity in 2022, wind at 220 GW.
- Global nuclear capacity was 392 GW net in 2022, operating in 31 countries.
- Brazil's hydropower capacity reached 109 GW by 2022, largest in South America.
- Japan's total capacity post-Fukushima recovery was 360 GW in 2022, solar leading growth.
- Australia's coal capacity remained at 58 GW in 2022 despite retirements.
- South Korea's gas-fired capacity expanded to 62 GW by 2022.
- Germany's Energiewende led to 65 GW wind capacity onshore by 2022.
- Saudi Arabia's total capacity was 85 GW in 2022, mostly gas and oil.
- Canada's hydro capacity dominated at 81 GW, 60% of total.
- Russia's thermal capacity was 240 GW, nuclear 30 GW in 2022.
- Mexico's capacity totaled 80 GW, with CCGT plants at 50%.
- Turkey added 10 GW solar and wind capacity from 2017-2022.
- Vietnam's coal capacity surged to 30 GW by 2022.
- Indonesia's geothermal capacity was 2.3 GW operational in 2022.
- UAE's solar capacity reached 5 GW with Noor Abu Dhabi project.
- South Africa's coal fleet capacity was 40 GW, 85% of total.
- Poland's coal capacity at 35 GW, lignite significant.
- Thailand's capacity 50 GW, gas 60% share.
- Argentina's hydro and gas capacity totaled 40 GW.
- Pakistan's thermal capacity 40 GW, hydro 10 GW in 2022.
- Egypt's capacity 58 GW, renewables growing to 20%.
Capacity and Installed Base Interpretation
While the world's power grid is sprouting a hopeful, if patchy, green beard with record renewable growth, it remains stubbornly shaved by the enduring stubble of fossil fuels, particularly coal's persistent shadow across Asia.
Economic and Market Statistics
- Global power investment $1.1 trillion in 2022.
- Renewables attracted $495 billion investment in 2022.
- US power sector capex $100 billion annually.
- China power investment $200 billion in 2022.
- India added 15 GW capacity for $20 billion.
- EU green power subsidies €50 billion yearly.
- Global LCOE solar PV fell to $49/MWh in 2022.
- Onshore wind LCOE $33/MWh globally 2022.
- Coal new plant LCOE $70-170/MWh.
- Nuclear LCOE $141-221/MWh for new builds.
- Brazil hydro projects cost $2,000/kW.
- Germany EEG surcharge €6.4 billion.
- Japan power retail prices ¥25/kWh.
- Australia wholesale prices spiked to AUD 200/MWh.
- South Korea power exports $5 billion.
- Saudi Vision 2030 power privatization $10B.
- Canada clean power export $10B CAD.
- Russia power market revenue 5 trillion RUB.
- Mexico power auctions 5 GW at $20/MWh.
Economic and Market Statistics Interpretation
The staggering global investment in power generation is a high-stakes financial drama where the once-dominant, expensive fossil fuels are now being dramatically upstaged by cheaper, subsidy-backed renewables, all while regional powerhouses like China, the US, and the EU furiously race to fund, privatize, and profit from the future grid.
Emissions and Environmental Impact
- Global power sector CO2 emissions 14.5 Gt in 2022.
- Coal power emitted 10 Gt CO2 globally in 2022.
- US power sector emissions fell 7% to 1.5 billion metric tons in 2022.
- China's power CO2 rose 4% to 6.5 Gt in 2022.
- India power emissions 1.1 Gt CO2 in FY2022-23.
- EU power emissions dropped 9% to 1 Gt in 2022.
- Global methane emissions from gas power 120 MtCO2e.
- Hydropower reservoirs emit 1 GtCO2e annually worldwide.
- Wind farms avoided 1.5 GtCO2 globally in 2022.
- Solar PV displaced 1.2 GtCO2 emissions in 2022.
- Nuclear power avoided 2.5 GtCO2 yearly.
- Brazil hydro low emissions 10 gCO2/kWh.
- Germany power emissions intensity 350 gCO2/kWh.
- Japan coal plants average 800 gCO2/kWh.
- Australia coal emissions 900 gCO2/kWh average.
- South Korea nuclear near-zero emissions.
- Saudi desalination-linked power high water use.
- Canada hydro emissions 20 gCO2/kWh.
- Russia gas flaring emissions 50 Mt.
- Mexico renewables cut emissions by 20 Mt.
Emissions and Environmental Impact Interpretation
While the coal industry stubbornly exhales the lion's share of our global emissions hangover, the sobering news is that renewable energy and nuclear power are proving to be the most effective morning-after cure, with some regions already nursing their economies back to health while others are still ordering another round at the carbon bar.
Fuel Mix and Sources
- Global coal share in electricity mix was 35% in 2022.
- Renewables share reached 30% of global electricity in 2022.
- US natural gas 40% of generation mix in 2022.
- China's coal dominated at 62% of electricity in 2022.
- India coal 75% of power mix in FY2022-23.
- EU renewables 44% of electricity in 2022.
- Global hydro 15% of electricity generation.
- Wind 7.5% global share in 2022 electricity.
- Solar PV 4-5% of world electricity in 2022.
- Nuclear 9% global electricity mix in 2022.
- Brazil hydro 60% of mix in 2022.
- Germany renewables 52% including biomass.
- Japan gas 30%, coal 30% post-Fukushima.
- Australia coal 50% despite renewables rise.
- South Korea nuclear 25%, coal 35%.
- Saudi gas and oil 100% of generation.
- Canada hydro 60%, nuclear 15%.
- Russia gas 45%, nuclear 20%.
- Mexico gas 50%, renewables 20%.
- Turkey coal 35%, hydro 25%.
Fuel Mix and Sources Interpretation
The old world, stubbornly fueled by coal and gas, now faces a determined, if fragmented, renewables uprising that paints a picture of energy progress as uneven as the global map itself.
Generation Output
- Global electricity generation from coal was 10,000 TWh in 2022.
- Renewables generated 8,184 TWh globally in 2022, 29% of total.
- US net electricity generation hit 4,178 billion kWh in 2022.
- China's electricity production reached 8,540 TWh in 2022, coal 62%.
- India's generation totaled 1,621 billion units in FY2022-23.
- EU-27 generated 2,600 TWh from renewables in 2022.
- Hydropower produced 4,250 TWh globally in 2022.
- Wind power generation worldwide was 2,090 TWh in 2022.
- Solar PV generated 1,320 TWh in 2022, up 24% YoY.
- Nuclear electricity output was 2,650 TWh in 2022.
- Natural gas generation globally 6,000 TWh in 2022.
- Brazil's hydro generation was 430 TWh in 2022.
- Germany's wind output reached 140 TWh in 2022.
- Japan's solar generation 100 TWh in 2022.
- Australia's coal generation 160 TWh despite decline.
- South Korea's nuclear output 190 TWh in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia generated 400 TWh mostly from gas.
- Canada's total generation 650 TWh, hydro 60%.
- Russia's gas generation 500 TWh in 2022.
- Mexico's generation 330 TWh, gas rising.
- Turkey's coal generation 120 TWh in 2022.
- Vietnam generated 260 TWh, coal 50%.
Generation Output Interpretation
Fossil fuels stubbornly cling to the grid's steering wheel, while renewables, led by hydro's quiet might and solar's explosive growth, are now shouting clear directions from the backseat—a global journey where some regions are already changing lanes faster than others.
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