Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights

In the first half of 2022, global electricity demand rose by 3%, and this growth was entirely met by renewables, which prevented a 4% increase in fossil fuel generation. While wind and solar met 77% of this demand growth, hydro met the remainder. However, the report notes that subsequent rises in coal and gas generation in July and August, driven by droughts in China and global heatwaves, mean that total power sector CO2 emissions for 2022 may still reach a record high.

• Renewable energy generation growth (wind, solar, and hydro) exceeded the growth in global electricity demand, with total renewables providing 28% of global electricity in H1-2022.
• Wind and solar power specifically met 77% of the global electricity demand growth in the first half of 2022, contributing to a total of 13% of global electricity (8% wind and 5% solar).
• The growth of wind and solar in H1-2022 prevented a 4% increase in fossil fuel generation, avoiding $40 billion USD in fuel costs and 230 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
• Despite the stability of fossil generation in the first half of the year, a rise in coal and gas generation during July and August—caused by heatwaves and droughts in China's Sichuan province—means 2022 power sector CO2 emissions may still set a record high.
• In China, wind and solar met 92% of the electricity demand rise in H1-2022, while in the US they met 81% and in India 23%.
• The European Union experienced a significant decline in hydro (-25%) and nuclear (-12%) generation in H1-2022, which led to a temporary increase in coal generation to cover the shortfall.

APA

Wiatros-Motyka, M., & Jones, D. (2022). Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2022/10/Report-Ember-Global-Electricity-Mid-Year-Insights-1.pdf

Chicago

Wiatros-Motyka, Małgorzata, and Dave Jones. Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights. Ember, 2022. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2022/10/Report-Ember-Global-Electricity-Mid-Year-Insights-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wiatros-Motyka |first1=Małgorzata |last2=Jones |first2=Dave |title=Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights |publisher=Ember |date=5 October 2022 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2022/10/Report-Ember-Global-Electricity-Mid-Year-Insights-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wiatrosmotyka2022global, author = {Wiatros-Motyka, Małgorzata and Jones, Dave}, title = {{Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2022}, month = oct, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2022/10/Report-Ember-Global-Electricity-Mid-Year-Insights-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }