World vitality consumption reached a document peak of 620 Exjoules (EJ) in 2023, with fossil gas consumption and vitality sector emissions additionally hitting document highs, based on the Statistical Evaluate of World Power, printed on 20 June by the Power Institute, Kearney and KPMG.
The report famous that in 2023 world fossil gas consumption rose 1.5% to 505 EJ, which was pushed by coal rising by 1.6%, and oil rising by 2% to over 100 million barrels for the primary time, whereas fuel consumption remained flat. As a share of the general combine they had been at 81.5%, marginally down from 82% final yr.
And emissions from vitality elevated by 2%, exceeding 40 gigatonnes of CO2 for the primary time.
However it was additionally a yr of document uptake of renewable vitality, whose rose 13% to a document excessive of 4,748 TWh (excluding hydroelectric). This progress was pushed virtually fully by wind and photo voltaic, which rose by 13% to hit a brand new document of 4,748 terawatt hours in 2023.
Divergent paths
Beneath the figures, the story to be informed was one among divergence between completely different elements of the world, with progress economies reminiscent of India clearly struggling to curb fossil fuels progress, whereas in China renewables uptake was clearly accelerating. In the meantime, dependence on fossil fuels in main superior economies was “likely to have peaked”.
In Europe fossil fuels fell to under 70% of major vitality for the primary time because the Industrial Revolution, pushed by demand discount and renewable vitality progress.
US consumption of fossil fuels fell to 80% of whole major vitality consumed.
Nonetheless, in India fossil gas consumption was up 8%, accounting for nearly all demand progress, and stood at 89% share of general consumption. For the primary time, extra coal was utilized in India than Europe and North America mixed.
In Africa major vitality consumption fell in 2023 by 0.5%. Fossil fuels accounted for 90% of general vitality consumption, with renewables (excluding hydro) at solely 6% of electrical energy.
China’s full return post-Covid noticed fossil gas use improve to a brand new excessive, up 6%, however as a share of major vitality it has been in decline since 2011, all the way down to 81.6% in 2023. China added 55% of all renewable technology additions in 2023, i.e. greater than the remainder of the world mixed. It additionally overtook Europe on an vitality per capita foundation for the primary time.
EI Chief Govt Nick Wayth CEng FEI, stated:“The progress of the transition is slow, but the big picture masks diverse energy stories playing out across different geographies. In advanced economies we observe signs of demand for fossil fuels peaking, contrasting with economies in the Global South for whom economic development and improvements in quality of life continue to drive fossil growth.”
Simon Virley CB FEI, Vice Chair and Head of Power and Pure Assets, KPMG within the UK stated: “In a yr the place now we have seen the contribution of renewables reaching a brand new document excessive, ever growing world vitality demand means the share coming from fossil fuels has remained nearly unchanged at simply over 80% for yet one more yr.
“With CO2 emissions also reaching record levels, it’s time to redouble our efforts on reducing carbon emissions and providing finance and capacity to build more low carbon energy sources in the global south where demand is growing at a rapid pace.”
Commentary in The Guardian famous that the findings would augur unwell for hopes voiced at COP final yr, that 2023 would go down in historical past because the yr wherein annual emissions peaked earlier than the worldwide fossil gas financial system started a terminal decline.
