Renewable electricity generation reached record levels worldwide in 2023
Global renewable electricity generation reached a record high in the Statistical Review of World Energy, driven by solar and wind energy. Renewable generation, excluding hydro, reached a record 4,748 TWh, up 13%. Solar and wind power generated 74% of net extra electricity, driving this outstanding rise. Renewables account for 8% of primary energy demand (without hydro) and 15% with hydro, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
This year, solar and wind capacity increased by 186 GW, 67% more than in 2022. Solar energy led the way with 346 GW, or 75% of additional capacity. About 25% of this growth came from China. Over 56 GW of solar power was installed in Europe, 16% of the global total.
Over 115 GW of wind power capacity was added in a record year. China grabbed nearly 66% of new wind capacity again, which equates to as much wind power as North America and Europe combined. While Europe has the largest offshore wind share at 12%, China leads in absolute numbers with 37 GW versus 32 GW.
The latest statistical assessment shows that China produced the most green energy in the world in 2023, with 2,894.1 TWh coming from 885.9 TWh of wind, 584.2 TWh of solar, 1,226.0 TWh of hydro, and 198.1 TWh of other renewable sources, an increase of 8.4%. The US came in second, with 973.7 TWh of renewable energy coming from solar (240.5 TWh), wind (429.5 TWh), water (236.3 TWh), and other sources (67.3 TWh), which is an increase of 0.5% year over year. Finally, Brazil came in third place, making 631.5 TWh of clean energy from mostly water (428.7 TWh), wind (95.5 TWh), solar (51.5 TWh), and other sources (55.8 TWh), which is an increase of 6.3%. In 2023, the world's production of green energy rose 5.4% to 8,988.4 TWh.
In 2023, global energy generation reached a record 29,925 TWh, indicating a rise of 2.5%. Renewable electricity generation rose from 29% to 30%. Biggest renewable contribution of 72% is provided by Southern and Central America. Despite the rise of renewables, coal still generates 60% of worldwide electricity.
