As per a new analysis from the environmental think tank Ember, wind and solar energy produced a record 10% of global electricity in the first half of 2020 as the world’s coal plants contributed to the sector by less than half of their capacity. It now makes up about a tenth of the global power mix, reaching close to the same amount of energy generated by nuclear power plants. But Ember said that steeper change is needed to meet targets set under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The report focuses on accelerating the global energy transition.
In April, the UK recorded its longest coal-free period since pre-industrial times following the coronavirus-induced lockdown. But while Ember said that the increase in renewables came as coal-powered generation declined to the lowest half-year level since at least 1990. Report authors say coal generation dropped by 8.3% but still accounted for 33% of global production – too high to meet global climate change targets.
Scientists say huge cuts to greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector are required over the next decade to limit global warming and curb the worst impacts of climate change such as floods, droughts and loss of species. “To keep a chance of limiting climate change to 1.5 degrees, coal generation needs to fall by 13% every year this decade,” Ember senior analyst Dave Jones said in a statement with the report.
Many key countries now generate around a tenth of their electricity from wind and solar. China (10%), the US (12%), India (10%), Japan (10%), Brazil (10%), and Turkey (13%). The EU and UK were substantially higher with 21% and 33%, respectively; Germany rose to 42%. This is all encouraging progress toward cutting down fossil fuel use in order to limit the devastating effects of climate change. Ember’s report examined data from 48 countries which make up 83% of global electricity production.
