Fossil fuels continue to meet more than 80% of the world’s energy needs despite a continued record growth rate of renewable energy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data compiled by the UK-based Energy Institute.
Global primary energy consumption grew by 1%, with global oil consumption rising almost 3 million b/d to 97.3 million b/d in 2022, 0.7% below 2019 levels, the Institute said in its Statistical Review of World Energy. Together with gas and coal, fossil fuels made up 82% of the global energy mix.
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Had China’s demand recovered in line with the rest of the world, oil demand in the world’s biggest import market would have been 1 million b/d higher, the Institute said, pushing fossil fuels to 83% of the global mix.
Fossil fuels accounted for 82% of primary energy in 2021, according to the previous annual review, down from 83% in 2019 and 85% five years ago. Oil’s share of the global energy mix was around 33% last year although it has been falling steadily over the past four decades after hitting a peak of 50% in 1973, according to the data.
In 2022, global natural gas demand declined by 3%. Its share in primary energy in 2022 decreased slightly to 24%. But coal demand continued to grow, rising 0.6% on 2021 to 161 exajoules (Ej); the highest level of coal consumption since 2014, according to the Energy Institute.
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Fossil fuel resilience in the energy mix comes despite record growth rates for renewable energy. In Europe, gas and coal consumption also saw a boost to fill the gap from lower nuclear power output in Germany and France. Last year saw the largest-ever increase in wind and solar new build capacity, the Institute said, noting that, together, they reached a record 12% share of power generation, with solar up 25% and wind up 13.5%.
Although starting from a low base and running well behind most projections for clean energy levels needed to meet the Paris Agreement climate targets, the growth of renewable energy remained robust, the Institute said.
