Global Electricity Review 2020

In 2019, global coal-fired electricity generation fell by 3%, contributing to a 2% decrease in power sector CO2 emissions, the largest declines since 1990. While coal collapsed in the EU and US, generation rose in China, which now accounts for half of global coal generation. Wind and solar generation grew by 15% in 2019, reaching 8% of the world's electricity, meeting the annual growth rate required by the Paris climate agreement. However, the document notes that the US transition is partly a switch to gas, whereas the EU is moving directly from coal to renewables.

• Global coal-fired electricity generation and associated power sector CO2 emissions both saw their largest declines since at least 1990 in 2019, falling by 3% and 2% respectively. This contributed to a 15% reduction in the carbon intensity of global electricity compared to 2010 levels.
• Wind and solar power generated 8% of global electricity in 2019, achieving a 15% growth rate. This growth rate is the compound annual increase necessary to meet the Paris climate agreement.
• Regional trends in coal decline vary: the EU and US both saw coal generation drop to half of 2007 levels by 2019, with the EU experiencing a 24% collapse and the US a 16% collapse in that year. However, China's coal generation increased, making it responsible for 50% of global coal generation for the first time.

APA

Ember (2020). Global Electricity Review 2020. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2020

Chicago

Ember. Global Electricity Review 2020. 2020. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2020.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Global Electricity Review 2020 |date=8 March 2020 |url=https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2020 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2020global, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Global Electricity Review 2020}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2020}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }