Analysis reveals Solar and Wind have surpassed the contribution of nuclear for the first time
Wind and solar accounted for a 10.2% share of power generation in 2021, the first time these technologies have provided more than 10% of global power, whilst also surpassing nuclear energy’s contribution, according to BP.
In its 2021 Statistical Review of World Energy, BP found that solar and wind capacity continued to grow rapidly in 2021, increasing by 226GW, close to the record increase of 236GW seen in 2020. Renewables’ share in power generation reached almost 13% in 2021, higher than the share of nuclear energy (9.8%). Renewable primary energy (including biofuels but excluding hydro) increased by around 5.1 exajoules (EJ) in 2021, corresponding to an annual growth rate of 15%. This was stronger than the previous year’s 9%, and higher than that of any other fuel in 2021, stated BP.
BP chief economist Spencer Dale said: “Encouragingly, renewable energy, led by wind and solar power, continued to grow strongly and now accounts for 13% of total generation.
“Renewable generation (excluding hydro) increased by almost 17% in 2021 and accounted for over half of the increase in global power generation over the past two years.”
China remained the main driver of solar and wind capacity growth in 2021, accounting for about 36% and 40% of the global capacity additions, respectively. Hydroelectricity generation decreased by around 1.4% in 2021, the first fall since 2015.
In contrast, nuclear generation increased by 4.2% – the strongest increase since 2004 – led by China. The share of coal in the power sector increased slightly from 35% to 36% in 2021 but remained below its 2019 level. The share of gas generation in 2021 remained close to its 10-year average level.
Primary energy grew by 31 EJ in 2021, the largest increase in history and more than reversing the sharp decline seen in 2020, according to BP’s 2021 statistical review. Primary energy in 2021 was 8 EJ above 2019 levels, with emerging economies driving the increase in primary energy in 2021, which increased by 13 EJ, with China expanding by 10 EJ. Taking 2020 and 2021 together, primary energy consumption in emerging economies increased by 15 EJ, largely reflecting growth in China (13 EJ).
In contrast, energy demand in developed economies in 2021 was 7 EJ below 2019 levels. The increase in primary energy between 2019 and 2021 was entirely driven by renewable energy sources, BP found, with the level of fossil fuel energy consumption remaining unchanged between 2019 and 2021, with lower oil demand (-8 EJ) offset by higher natural gas (5 EJ) and coal (3 EJ) consumption.
Dale added: “The low carbon energy sources, vectors and technologies needed to achieve a fast and deep decarbonisation exist today – wind and solar power, biofuels, blue and green hydrogen, carbon capture, use and storage and carbon dioxide removals. “The challenge is to apply them at unprecedented pace and scale.”
