2023 will be the beginning of the decline of fossil fuels and we will start talking about the transition with wind and solar energy that will push the world into a new era. This is stated in a new report released Wednesday by energy think tank Ember.
Ember’s Global Electricity Review analyzed electricity data from 78 countries representing 93% of global electricity demand, revealing that global electricity generation in 2022 was the cleanest ever. This is also thanks to the record growth of wind and solar energy, which account for 12% of world energy production. “This is the beginning of the end of the fossil age. We are entering the age of clean energy,” said Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, lead author of the study. Solar energy was the fastest growing energy with 24% increase. The report highlighted its vital role (along with that of wind energy) in pushing the world towards a new era of clean energy and reduced emissions.
And this is already confirmed, despite the increase in emissions in 2022 caused by the war in Ukraine and the decrease in the supply of cheap Russian gas. “You can see that wind and sun are already helping to reduce emissions,” said Dave Jones, head of data insights at Ember. The report also suggested that wind and solar power could provide 75 percent of the clean energy growth from today to 2050, thanks to their lower costs than fossil fuels.
Data for Europe, where the transition appears to be occurring faster than the world average, are important. In 2022, wind and solar accounted for 22% of electricity production, up from 13% in 2015. However, it is true that emissions in the EU increased by 2.8% last year compared to 2021, and this is due both to a decrease in nuclear production (due to maintenance work in France and plant closures in Germany) and a decrease in hydroelectric power generation caused by drought, in part replacement with coal and gas.
On the one hand, the increase in coal demand in Europe was driven by the need to reduce gas consumption after the war in Ukraine and Russia’s decision to cut supply, according to a report by the IEA (International Energy Agency). On the other hand, the occupation of Moscow and the global energy crisis prompted member states to reconsider their dependence on fossil fuels, thus accelerating the transition. “2022 will be remembered as a turning point in the energy transition,” Jones said.
According to Ember models, the cheapest way to reach the net zero emissions target by 2035 would be to see the EU produce 70-80% of its electricity from wind and solar and less than 5% from gas. According to the report, by 2030, only 17% of the EU’s electricity will come from fossil fuels: “The EU’s electricity sector is well positioned to reach a trajectory in line with the Paris goals,” the analysis says. “The EU cannot afford to be indifferent,” said Sarah Brown, program manager for Ember Europe, as Oceania outstripped the European bloc in the renewable energy revolution, with North America and Asia quickly catching up.
As for critical minerals as a potential contender in the green transition, the report makes no mention of them. Materials such as copper, lithium or nickel used in many clean energy technologies in Europe are mostly imported today. But some experts don’t mind, saying it’s “the wrong problem” to be pushed into the debate by fossil fuel officials who want to slow change. “The reason we’re not talking about it is because it’s not a hindrance,” said Kingsmill Bond, a senior director at the Rocky Mountain Institute in the United States.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
