Coal Still Dominates Global Electricity in 2022, But Renewables Growing Fast
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Coal generated over a third of the world's electricity in 2022, followed by natural gas and hydroelectric power. China, India, and the U.S. consume most of the coal.
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Renewable energy, especially wind and solar, accounted for 14.4% of global electricity generation in 2022 and grew at an annual rate of 14.7%.
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With hydroelectric included, renewables generated over 29% of the world's electricity in 2022.
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Nuclear power declined 4% globally in 2022, largely due to shutdowns in France where nuclear generation dropped 22%.
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Resolving tensions between reliable but dirty energy like coal versus clean but intermittent sources like wind and solar will be crucial as climate change accelerates.