Despite producing enough electricity to power every home on the planet hundreds of times over, the shocking truth is that our global power system in 2022 remained dangerously dependent on fossil fuels, which generated over 60% of the world's electricity and were responsible for a record 14.6 gigatons of CO2 emissions.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global electricity generation reached 29,165 terawatt-hours (TWh), with fossil fuels accounting for 60.1% of the total
- Coal-fired power plants generated 10,179 TWh globally in 2022, representing 35% of total electricity production
- Natural gas contributed 5,984 TWh to global electricity generation in 2022, or 20.5% of the total mix
- Global installed electricity generation capacity stood at 8,984 GW at end-2022
- Renewables accounted for 3,372 GW of global capacity in 2022, 37.5% of total
- Solar PV capacity reached 1,050 GW globally by end-2022, up 22%
- Global electricity consumption grew 2.5% to 27,820 TWh in 2022
- Residential sector used 5,450 TWh globally in 2022, 27% of total
- Industry consumed 9,820 TWh in 2022, 44% of electricity demand
- Global renewable capacity additions hit 345 GW in 2022, record high
- Solar PV added 269 GW globally in 2022, 86% of new renewables
- Wind added 77 GW in 2022, China leading with 30 GW
- Global coal-fired capacity under construction was 1,007 GW at end-2022, mostly Asia
- Coal power emissions reached 14.5 GtCO2 in 2022, 40% of energy sector
- Natural gas flaring emitted 139 bcm in 2022, equivalent to 400 MtCO2
Global power generation remains dominated by fossil fuels despite record renewable energy growth.
Electricity Consumption
1Global electricity consumption grew 2.5% to 27,820 TWh in 2022
Verified2Residential sector used 5,450 TWh globally in 2022, 27% of total
Verified3Industry consumed 9,820 TWh in 2022, 44% of electricity demand
Verified4Commercial/services used 3,280 TWh globally in 2022
Directional5Transport sector electricity use reached 180 TWh in 2022, EVs driving growth
Single source6US electricity consumption was 4,000 TWh in 2022, flat vs 2021
Verified7China's consumption hit 8,620 TWh in 2022, up 3.6%
Verified8EU-27 consumption fell 3.5% to 2,550 TWh in 2022 due to crisis
Verified9India's consumption grew 7.5% to 1,504 TWh in FY2022-23
Directional10Brazil's consumption was 540 TWh in 2022, industry 40%
Single source11Japan's consumption dropped to 920 TWh in 2022
Verified12Russia's consumption was 1,050 TWh in 2022
Verified13Germany's consumption fell 4.2% to 480 TWh in 2022
Verified14South Korea used 550 TWh in 2022, up 2%
Directional15Australia's consumption was 265 TWh in 2022
Single source16Canada's consumption totaled 550 TWh in 2022
Verified17France consumed 450 TWh in 2022, down due to nuclear
Verified18Saudi Arabia's consumption reached 370 TWh in 2022
Verified19Mexico used 310 TWh in 2022
Directional20Turkey's consumption grew 5% to 330 TWh in 2022
Single sourceElectricity Consumption Interpretation
While the world's power hunger grew by a hearty 2.5%, with industry being the biggest glutton at nearly half the pie, the story was one of stark regional diets: China devoured more, Europe tightened its belt during a crisis, and America just picked at its plate, proving that even our global appetite for electrons is on a wildly different meal plan.
Electricity Generation
1In 2022, global electricity generation reached 29,165 terawatt-hours (TWh), with fossil fuels accounting for 60.1% of the total
Verified2Coal-fired power plants generated 10,179 TWh globally in 2022, representing 35% of total electricity production
Verified3Natural gas contributed 5,984 TWh to global electricity generation in 2022, or 20.5% of the total mix
Verified4Nuclear power generated 2,650 TWh worldwide in 2022, accounting for 9.1% of global electricity
Directional5Hydroelectricity produced 4,240 TWh in 2022, making up 14.5% of global electricity generation
Single source6Wind power generated 2,157 TWh globally in 2022, up 9% from the previous year
Verified7Solar photovoltaic generation hit 1,317 TWh in 2022, a 24% increase year-over-year
Verified8Bioenergy contributed 645 TWh to global electricity in 2022, primarily from solid biomass
Verified9In the US, electricity generation totaled 4,243 TWh in 2022, with natural gas at 42.6%
Directional10China's electricity generation reached 8,760 TWh in 2022, led by coal at 61%
Single source11EU-27 generated 2,650 TWh in 2022, with renewables at 44%
Verified12India's thermal power generation was 1,529 TWh in FY2022-23, mostly coal
Verified13Brazil's hydropower dominated with 430 TWh in 2022, 59% of total generation
Verified14Japan's nuclear generation rebounded to 75 TWh in 2022 after Fukushima
Directional15Russia's electricity output was 1,100 TWh in 2022, gas and nuclear heavy
Single source16Germany's lignite generation fell to 80 TWh in 2022 amid phase-out
Verified17South Korea's coal power generated 280 TWh in 2022, 35% of mix
Verified18Australia's coal-fired generation was 180 TWh in 2022, down 5%
Verified19Canada's hydro output reached 380 TWh in 2022, 60% of supply
Directional20France relied on nuclear for 320 TWh in 2022 despite outages
Single source21Saudi Arabia's gas generation hit 350 TWh in 2022
Verified22Mexico's generation totaled 330 TWh in 2022, gas at 44%
Verified23Turkey's coal power rose to 120 TWh in 2022
Verified24Indonesia's coal generation was 190 TWh in 2022
Directional25South Africa's Eskom generated 220 TWh in 2022, mostly coal
Single sourceElectricity Generation Interpretation
Despite the refreshing breeze of growth in wind and solar, the global power grid remains stubbornly wedded to its smoky, carbon-spewing spouse, fossil fuels, for over 60% of its energy needs.
Fossil Fuels and Emissions
1Global coal-fired capacity under construction was 1,007 GW at end-2022, mostly Asia
Verified2Coal power emissions reached 14.5 GtCO2 in 2022, 40% of energy sector
Verified3Natural gas flaring emitted 139 bcm in 2022, equivalent to 400 MtCO2
Verified4Global power sector CO2 emissions hit 14.6 Gt in 2022, up 1.8%
Directional5China coal generation emitted 5.5 GtCO2 in 2022
Single source6US power emissions fell 5% to 1.5 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified7EU ETS emissions from power dropped 19% in 2022
Verified8India's coal emissions rose 10% to 1.1 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified9Coal plant retirements globally totaled 39 GW in 2022
Directional10Gas turbine capacity utilization averaged 45% globally in 2022
Single source11South Africa's coal fleet load factor was 55% in 2022 due to breakdowns
Verified12Australia's coal emissions 0.4 GtCO2 from power in 2022
Verified13Indonesia permitted 17 GW new coal in 2022
Verified14Poland's coal generation share 70% in 2022, emissions high
Directional15Global fossil fuel subsidies reached $1.3 trillion in 2022, power sector major
Single source16Methane emissions from gas power plants totaled 50 MtCH4eq in 2022
Verified17Carbon capture capacity in power sector was 45 MtCO2/year operational in 2022
Verified18US coal capacity retired 5 GW in 2022, total 180 GW remaining
Verified19China's coal approvals surged to 106 GW in 2022
DirectionalFossil Fuels and Emissions Interpretation
While Asia feverishly builds the coal-fired equivalent of a thousand new suns, the rest of the world's emissions report card is a mixed bag of modest progress, tragic breakdowns, and financial lunacy, proving that solving climate change is less a sprint and more a globally uncoordinated three-legged race.
Power Capacity
1Global installed electricity generation capacity stood at 8,984 GW at end-2022
Verified2Renewables accounted for 3,372 GW of global capacity in 2022, 37.5% of total
Verified3Solar PV capacity reached 1,050 GW globally by end-2022, up 22%
Verified4Wind capacity totaled 899 GW worldwide in 2022, onshore dominant
Directional5Hydropower capacity was 1,296 GW at end-2022
Single source6Nuclear capacity globally was 392 GW in 2022
Verified7Coal-fired capacity peaked at 2,141 GW in 2022 before decline
Verified8Gas-fired capacity reached 1,798 GW globally in 2022
Verified9US total capacity was 1,185 GW in 2022, renewables 25%
Directional10China's capacity hit 2,620 GW in 2022, coal 50%
Single source11EU capacity totaled 1,200 GW in 2022, wind/solar 30%
Verified12India's capacity reached 407 GW in FY2022-23, coal 50%
Verified13Brazil's capacity was 192 GW in 2022, hydro 60%
Verified14Japan's capacity stood at 340 GW in 2022
Directional15Russia's capacity was 260 GW in 2022
Single source16Germany's capacity dropped to 220 GW in 2022 post-lignite
Verified17South Korea's capacity hit 140 GW in 2022
Verified18Australia's NEM capacity was 65 GW in 2022
Verified19Canada's capacity totaled 145 GW in 2022, hydro 80 GW
Directional20France's nuclear capacity was 61 GW in 2022
Single source21Saudi Arabia added 5.8 GW solar capacity in 2022, total 10 GW
Verified22Mexico's capacity was 85 GW in 2022
Verified23Turkey's capacity reached 103 GW in 2022
VerifiedPower Capacity Interpretation
The global power grid is in a heated race between its fossil-fueled past and its renewable future, with nations placing vastly different bets as the clock ticks down on climate change.
Renewable Energy
1Global renewable capacity additions hit 345 GW in 2022, record high
Verified2Solar PV added 269 GW globally in 2022, 86% of new renewables
Verified3Wind added 77 GW in 2022, China leading with 30 GW
Verified4Hydropower added 15 GW net in 2022
Directional5Bioenergy capacity grew by 5 GW in 2022 globally
Single source6Renewables generated 29.4% of global electricity in 2022, up from 28.1%
Verified7Offshore wind capacity reached 35 GW by end-2022
Verified8Concentrated solar power (CSP) capacity totaled 6.5 GW in 2022
Verified9Geothermal capacity stood at 15 GW globally in 2022
Directional10US added 15 GW renewables in 2022, solar 11 GW
Single source11China installed 76 GW solar and 38 GW wind in 2022
Verified12EU added 56 GW renewables in 2022
Verified13India added 13 GW renewables in FY2022-23
Verified14Brazil added 5 GW wind/solar in 2022
Directional15Vietnam's solar boom added 10 GW in 2022
Single source16UAE commissioned 2 GW solar in 2022
Verified17Global green hydrogen projects reached 347 GW electrolyser capacity announced in 2022
Verified18Floating solar capacity hit 5 GW globally in 2022
Verified19Renewables investment topped $495 billion in 2022
DirectionalRenewable Energy Interpretation
The numbers are in, and they paint a picture of a world finally sprinting—led by a solar-powered surge—toward a cleaner grid, though the finish line remains frustratingly distant.
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