Ameer Randolph
Fossil fuels remain the primary source of electricity generation worldwide, despite the ongoing aggressive rollout of renewable energy sources. In 2023, fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum generated about 60% of global electricity, with coal alone accounting for roughly 35-40% of the global power mix. This dominance of fossil fuels in the energy sector underscores the challenges facing climate activists and policymakers, as the world aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avert further increases in global temperatures. While renewable sources have gained traction, providing a boost to the energy transition, fossil fuels continue to play a significant role in global power systems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of global electricity generated by fossil fuels in 2023 | 60% |
| Percentage of global electricity generated by coal in 2023 | 35.5% |
| Percentage of global electricity generated by natural gas in 2023 | 23% |
| Percentage of global electricity generated by fossil fuels in 2017 | 64.5% |
| Percentage of global electricity generated by fossil fuels in 2019 | 81% |
| Percentage of global electricity generated by coal in 2019 | 37% |
| Percentage of global electricity generated by oil in 2019 | <3% |
| Countries where over half of electricity is from fossil fuels | China, India, Japan, Poland, Turkey, United States |
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What You'll Learn
- Fossil fuels are the largest source of global CO2 emissions
- Coal is the largest source of electricity globally
- Gas is the second-largest source of electricity production
- Fossil fuels generated 64.5% of worldwide electricity in 2017
- Fossil fuel use has declined due to the rollout of renewable energy sources
Fossil fuels are the largest source of global CO2 emissions
The dominance of fossil fuels in the energy sector has significant implications for the environment and public health. Burning carbon-based fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants like sulphur and nitrogen oxides, contributing to climate change and air pollution. For instance, it is estimated that 670,000 people in China die prematurely each year due to coal-related air pollution. Despite a slight decrease in coal usage in some regions, such as Europe and North America, other regions like Asia have maintained or increased their coal consumption, highlighting the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels.
The transport sector is another significant contributor to fossil fuel consumption. Oil, in particular, is heavily used in this sector, and while its share of the total energy mix has decreased over the years, it remains the most produced form of energy. The global health crisis in 2020 led to a decrease in transport demand and a corresponding drop in oil production (-7%). However, as economic activities rebounded, particularly in China, coal and natural gas production also recovered.
Nuclear power, which does not produce greenhouse gases during electricity generation, accounted for about 10% of global electricity production in 2018. While nuclear energy has remained relatively stable, the decline in its usage has offset the gains made by renewable energy sources. This dynamic has maintained the dominance of fossil fuels in the energy sector.
To achieve a sustainable future, a transition away from fossil fuels is necessary. This involves decarbonizing various sectors beyond electricity, including transport, heat, and industry. While the share of renewable energy sources in global electricity production has grown, it has yet to surpass the 40% threshold during the January-to-August period in 2023. Projections indicate that renewables will likely overtake fossil fuels as the main power source by 2040, but this transition needs to be accelerated to address the urgent climate crisis.
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Coal is the largest source of electricity globally
Fossil fuels remain the primary source of electricity worldwide, with coal being the largest contributor. In 2023, coal accounted for roughly 35%-36% of the global electricity mix, according to various sources. This percentage equates to about 837.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity generated from coal between January and August 2023, a slight increase from the same period in 2022.
The largest consumers of coal for electricity generation include China, India, and the United States. In China, coal consumption is expected to level off due to the expansion of renewable energy sources and the increasing demand for electricity. India has also witnessed a significant rise in coal consumption due to extreme heatwaves, which has led to a sharp increase in electricity demand.
Despite a global shift towards renewable energy sources, coal continues to play a significant role in electricity generation in Asia, with its share remaining flat at around 56% in recent years. The average monthly coal output in Asia has increased from around 590 TWh in 2019 to 686 TWh in 2023.
While coal's share of the electricity generation mix has declined in Europe and North America, it still supplies just over a third of global electricity. The gradual replacement of coal in most countries is hampered by the crucial role it plays in iron and steel production, as well as energy security concerns. To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, governments and the coal industry must develop and implement less polluting technologies, such as carbon capture and storage.
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Gas is the second-largest source of electricity production
Fossil fuels remain the primary source of electricity worldwide, with coal, natural gas, and petroleum being the most common sources. In 2023, about 60% of electricity generation in the United States was from fossil fuels, with global statistics reflecting similar trends. Despite the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources, fossil fuels still dominate the energy landscape.
While coal remains the largest source of electricity generation globally, gas has emerged as the second-largest source. Natural gas accounted for a significant portion of global energy production in 2023, with a 23% share of the global power mix. This places it ahead of other fossil fuels like oil, which accounts for only a small share of electricity production.
The importance of gas as a source of electricity is further highlighted by its role in power plants. Gas plants utilize hot gases to drive a turbine to generate electricity. Additionally, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants employ a steam generator to enhance electricity production, making gas a crucial component in addressing the world's electricity demands.
The dominance of gas as the second-largest source of electricity production is evident when compared to other energy sources. For instance, nuclear energy, a clean and environmentally friendly alternative, generated only 10.5% of the world's electricity in 2018. While renewables have made significant strides, their share of global electricity production has yet to surpass the 40% threshold as of 2023.
It is worth noting that the energy landscape is dynamic, and the contribution of gas to electricity production may fluctuate over time. However, as of 2023, gas remains a pivotal component of global electricity generation, second only to coal among fossil fuels.
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Fossil fuels generated 64.5% of worldwide electricity in 2017
Fossil fuels are the predominant source of energy generation worldwide. In 2017, 64.5% of electricity worldwide was generated from fossil fuels. This figure has remained relatively stable over the past few decades, with fossil fuels generating 61.9% of global electricity in 1990. The use of fossil fuels for electricity generation continues to increase, despite the strong growth of renewables.
Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and gas, with coal being the largest source of electricity globally. In 2023, coal accounted for roughly 35.5% of the global power mix, followed by natural gas at 23%. While coal's share of the electricity generation mix has declined in Europe and North America, it has remained stable in Asia, where average monthly coal output has increased in recent years. China, India, and the United States are the largest consumers of coal for electricity generation.
The dominance of fossil fuels in global energy systems is a significant concern for climate activists. Fossil fuel power plants burn coal, oil, or gas to generate heat, which produces large amounts of carbon dioxide and contributes to climate change. Despite the aggressive rollout of renewable energy sources, several key countries continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation, including the United States, China, India, Japan, Poland, and Turkey.
However, there are signs of a transition away from fossil fuels. The share of renewables in global electricity has seen more pronounced year-on-year growth, and projections indicate that renewables will surpass fossil fuels as the main power source by 2040. Additionally, some countries, such as Sweden, Norway, France, Paraguay, Iceland, and Nepal, already obtain over 90% of their electricity from nuclear or renewable sources.
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Fossil fuel use has declined due to the rollout of renewable energy sources
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. In 2018, the burning of fossil fuels caused $2.9 trillion in health and economic costs globally, approximately $8 billion per day. Despite the rollout of renewable energy sources, fossil fuels still dominate global power systems, with over 60% of global electricity in 2023 produced by them. However, the use of fossil fuels has declined due to the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower, emit little to no greenhouse gases and are typically more readily available and cheaper than fossil fuels. In 2023, about 21% of electricity generation in the United States was from renewable energy sources, and worldwide, about 29% of electricity came from renewables. The use of renewable energy technologies is increasing due to their rapidly falling prices and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85% between 2010 and 2020, while onshore and offshore wind energy costs decreased by 56% and 48%, respectively.
The transition to renewable energy sources is also driven by the need to reduce import dependency and diversify economies. Additionally, renewable energy facilities can be deployed more rapidly than fossil fuel plants. Solar and onshore wind farms typically take less than two years to build, while gas-fired power plants can take up to four years to become operational and often require the construction of gas pipeline infrastructure. The increasing use of battery energy storage systems, such as lithium-ion batteries, further supports the rollout of renewable energy. These batteries are efficient carriers of energy and can provide backup power to the grid, reducing the need for fossil fuel-based standby power.
While fossil fuels still dominate global electricity generation, there are signs of a shift towards renewable energy. In the United States, solar and wind farms have dominated new power plant builds in recent years, while coal-fired plants are being retired at a record pace. Between 2019 and 2020, wind and solar energy represented 62% of new generating capacity, while 14GW of coal-fired capacity was retired. This trend is expected to continue, with projections indicating that renewables will surpass fossil fuels as the main power source by 2040.
The decline in fossil fuel use is also evident in the job market. The renewable energy sector is expected to create numerous jobs, with the number of renewable energy jobs worldwide potentially tripling to reach 42 million by 2050. In contrast, the fossil fuel industry is projected to lose over 6 million jobs by 2050, even without the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, about 60% of global electricity generation comes from fossil fuels.
Coal, natural gas, and petroleum are the primary fossil fuels used for electricity generation. Oil is also used, but to a lesser extent.
Yes, several key countries sourced over half of their electricity from fossil fuels in 2023, including the United States (59%), China (65%), India (75%), Japan (63%), Poland (73%), and Turkey (57%). However, some countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and France, get over 90% of their electricity from nuclear or renewable sources.
