Key Highlights
- The global power market is projected to reach a value of $4.8 trillion by 2027
- Renewable energy accounted for nearly 29% of global electricity generation in 2022
- Solar power capacity worldwide exceeded 940 GW in 2023
- The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar has dropped by 89% since 2010
- Hydropower remains the largest source of renewable electricity, accounting for about 16% of global electricity production in 2022
- Coal still supplies approximately 36% of the world's electricity, making it the largest single source
- The global electricity demand is expected to see an annual growth rate of 2.4% from 2023 to 2028
- The adoption of smart grid technology is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 18% from 2022 to 2027
- Nuclear power generated about 10.4% of global electricity in 2022
- Battery storage capacity worldwide surpassed 17 GW in 2023, representing a significant increase from previous years
- The wind power capacity installed globally reached over 830 GW in 2023
- The EU aims to produce at least 45% of its energy needs from renewables by 2030
- According to IRENA, investing $131 trillion globally in renewable energy could help meet climate goals by 2050
The power industry is undergoing a seismic shift, with renewable energy poised to dominate a global market projected to hit $4.8 trillion by 2027, as innovations lower costs, expand capacity, and reshape the energy landscape worldwide.
Fossil Fuels and Transition Strategies
- Coal still supplies approximately 36% of the world's electricity, making it the largest single source
- The global electricity demand is expected to see an annual growth rate of 2.4% from 2023 to 2028
- Nuclear power generated about 10.4% of global electricity in 2022
- The share of coal-fired power plants retrofitted with carbon capture technology is less than 0.3% of total capacity globally
- The United States generated about 19% of its electricity from natural gas in 2022
- The European Union plans to phase out coal power plants by 2030, with some regions set for earlier closures
- The share of electricity generated from natural gas is expected to increase in several regions, including the Middle East and Africa, by 2025
Fossil Fuels and Transition Strategies Interpretation
Investment and Market Economics
- The global power market is projected to reach a value of $4.8 trillion by 2027
- According to IRENA, investing $131 trillion globally in renewable energy could help meet climate goals by 2050
- The global power transmission and distribution equipment market is expected to reach $313 billion by 2027
- Electricity prices in the US have increased by an average of 3.2% annually over the past decade
- The total investment in grid modernization reached approximately $600 billion globally between 2020 and 2023
- Investment in smart meters worldwide was over $20 billion in 2022, facilitating better energy management
- Investment in offshore wind farms worldwide reached nearly $30 billion in 2023, with Europe leading in capacity additions
Investment and Market Economics Interpretation
Regional Development and Policy Initiatives
- Asia Pacific remains the largest market for power generation, accounting for over 50% of global capacity additions in 2022
Regional Development and Policy Initiatives Interpretation
Renewable Energy and Power Generation Trends
- Renewable energy accounted for nearly 29% of global electricity generation in 2022
- Solar power capacity worldwide exceeded 940 GW in 2023
- The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar has dropped by 89% since 2010
- Hydropower remains the largest source of renewable electricity, accounting for about 16% of global electricity production in 2022
- The wind power capacity installed globally reached over 830 GW in 2023
- The EU aims to produce at least 45% of its energy needs from renewables by 2030
- The cost of onshore wind energy has decreased by 70% since 2010, making it one of the cheapest renewable options
- Nearly 60% of new power capacity installed globally in 2022 was renewable
- The average capacity factor for offshore wind farms is around 45%, higher than onshore wind
- The adoption of decentralized power generation (like rooftop solar) grew by 22% globally in 2022
- Global waste-to-energy capacity was estimated at over 100 GW in 2023, supporting waste management and energy needs
- The capacity of global geothermal power reached approximately 15 GW in 2023, representing steady growth
- Global employment in the renewable energy sector exceeded 12 million jobs in 2023, with solar being the largest employer
- Electric power generation from biomass contributed approximately 3.2% of global electricity in 2022
- China led the world with over 350 GW of solar capacity installed in 2023, maintaining its position as the largest solar market
- The global market for power electronics in renewable energy systems is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.3% through 2027
Renewable Energy and Power Generation Trends Interpretation
Technological Advancements and Infrastructure
- The adoption of smart grid technology is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 18% from 2022 to 2027
- Battery storage capacity worldwide surpassed 17 GW in 2023, representing a significant increase from previous years
- The increase in global electricity storage deployments could enable a 45% rise in renewable energy integration by 2030
- The global electric vehicle (EV) stock reached 45 million units in 2023, increasing energy demand for charging
- The global energy intensity (energy per unit of GDP) has decreased by about 1.8% annually since 2010, indicating increased efficiency
- According to BloombergNEF, the levelized cost of battery storage has fallen by 55% since 2018, boosting grid resilience
- Power outages in the US caused economic losses exceeding $150 billion annually, primarily due to aging infrastructure
Technological Advancements and Infrastructure Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1AXIOSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2IRECUSAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3GRANDVIEWRESEARCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4REN21Research Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5ENERGY-STORAGEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6EIAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7ABOUTResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 8OXFORDENERGYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 9NRELResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 10WORLD-NUCLEARResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 11RENEWABLEENERGYWORLDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 12OFFSHOREWINDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 13ENERGYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 14IEAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 15SMART-ENERGYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 16WORLDBANKResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 17WINDPOWERMONTHLYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 18IRENAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 19MARKETSANDMARKETSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 20GLOBENEWSWIREResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 21FEMAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 22ECResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 23ENERGYJUSTICEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source