Giorgia Burzachechi Global energy production from fossil and nuclear sources is declining, while renewables are growing strongly, especially in Europe. From 2000 to 2023, the share of nuclear and coal decreased significantly, while solar and wind saw large increases.
Data from Ember, an independent, UK-based global think tank, indicates a downward trajectory for the world in terms of energy production from both fossil and nuclear sources. Ember works with data and policy analysis to accelerate the transition to clean energy. Indeed, after analyzing the last 20 years, the findings confirm this shift.
In 2023, nuclear power provided roughly 9% of the world’s electricity generation, a proportion that, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency, it will still provide in 2050. The energy mix is shifting around the world.
Ember has built a tool to track energy production worldwide, and it makes the trend fairly clear.
Over the past two decades, nuclear power’s share of the world’s energy has been in steady decline. This is despite generally stable production, which has risen a mere 6% since the year 2000.
In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for roughly 9% of global electricity production, where the IEA forecasts it to be in 2050.
Coal’s fluctuating role
The situation of coal is somewhat different but leads to similar conclusions. As is well known, coal-fired electricity generation saw an important increase at the beginning of this century.
However, if data is analyzed from 2015 to 2023, a downward percentage trend becomes evident.
What is happening? The answer becomes clear when these figures are compared with a broader picture including all other energy sources, especially renewables.
Meanwhile, solar and wind power have gained significantly in recent years, up 9% and 16% respectively since 2000.
Renewables Take the Lead
All in all, renewables accounted for the largest share of electricity generation in the EU with 35% in 2023, ahead of fossil fuels with 32% and nuclear power with 23%.
There is still a long way to go toward climate neutrality in 2050, but the trajectory is well pointed out.
Source: Ember
