Decarbonisation of the power sector among G20 countries has been making significant strides since the implementation of the Paris Agreement, with renewables playing a pivotal role in reducing the reliance on coal power. Recent data from Ember, a renowned think tank, sheds light on this encouraging trend.
According to Ember's analysis, wind and solar energy accounted for a combined share of 13% of electricity generation in G20 countries in 2022, marking a substantial increase from the 5% recorded in 2015. The growth in renewable energy during this period has been remarkable, with the share of wind power doubling and solar power quadrupling.
As a direct consequence, the percentage of electricity generated from coal in G20 countries witnessed a decline from 43% in 2015 to 39% in 2022. This signifies a notable shift away from coal and towards cleaner energy sources. Meanwhile, the contributions of other electricity sources remained relatively stable, experiencing minor fluctuations of only 1-2 percentage points.
The progress made in adopting wind and solar power across the G20 nations has been a mixed bag. Leading the way in renewable energy adoption are countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, which have achieved wind and solar shares of 32%, 29%, and 25% respectively. On the other hand, countries like Turkey, Brazil, the United States, and China consistently surpassed the global average in embracing wind and solar energy.
However, some countries within the G20 have lagged behind in incorporating wind and solar power into their energy mix. Russia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, for instance, have shown minimal involvement in utilizing these renewable sources. In fact, their wind and solar energy contributions remain close to zero.
Alarmingly, thirteen G20 nations still rely on fossil fuels for over half of their electricity generation as of 2022. Saudi Arabia stands out as the most reliant, with almost 100% of its electricity derived from oil and gas. Following closely are South Africa, Indonesia, and India, with reliance rates of 86%, 82%, and 77% respectively. These countries predominantly rely on coal for their energy needs.
Among the advanced economies (OECD) within the G20, it is crucial that they prioritize coal phase-out by 2030. Encouragingly, these economies collectively reduced their coal generation by 42% from 2015 to 2022. Notably, the United Kingdom experienced the most significant decline in coal power, with a staggering 93% reduction since the signing of the Paris Agreement. This remarkable achievement led to coal's share in the UK's electricity generation plummeting from 23% in 2015 to a mere 2% in 2022. Similarly, Italy halved its reliance on coal power during the same period, while the United States and Germany each achieved a one-third reduction.
The remarkable growth in wind and solar energy generation has played a pivotal role in the success of these advanced economies in reducing their dependence on coal power. The United Kingdom and Germany particularly stand out with the highest wind power shares, reaching 25% and 22% respectively in 2022.
The transition to cleaner energy sources is gaining momentum within the G20, with renewables increasingly overshadowing coal power. While there is still work to be done, the progress made thus far demonstrates the potential for a future powered by sustainable and decarbonized electricity generation.
