L R AS Published on Monday 16 October 2023 - n° 461 - Categories:various sectors
Stable global GHG emissions from the electricity sector in the first half of the year
Global greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector remained stable in the first half of 2023, increasing by just 0.2% (equivalent to more than
12 million tonnes ofCO2) compared to the same period last year, according to British consultancy Ember.
The most significant reductions in emissions were seen in the European Union, followed by Japan, the United States and South Korea. These reductions were mainly due to a decrease in coal production, particularly in the United States, the European Union, Japan and South Korea.
According to Ember, reaching peak fossil fuel emissions in the electricity sector is a crucial step in the transition to a clean, electrified economy. This means accelerating the deployment of wind and solar power, tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
In the first half of 2023, wind and solar energy contributed 14.3% of the world's electricity supply, compared with 12.8% in 2022. Despite these gains, fossil-fired generation rose slightly to offset the hydroelectric deficit (-8.5%, or -177 TWh).
The fall in demand for electricity has helped to limit the growth in global emissions in the first half of 2023 to 0.4% compared with the previous year. This compares with an average annual increase of 2.6% between 2012 and 2022.
PV Magazine, 10 October 2023
