Renewable energy accounted for a record share of global energy consumption last year, but so too did coal, hitting its highest level since 1970.
According to oil giant BP’s annual energy review, renewables accounted for 2.7% of global consumption last year, up from 0.8% a decade ago.
Try Premium for just $1
- Full premium access for the first month at only $1
- Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
- Expert industry analysis and interviews
- Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
- Exclusive event discounts
Or get the full Premium subscription right away
Or continue reading this article for free
Solar was the fastest growing technology in the renewables class, growing by 33% compared to wind’s 20.7% in 2013.
Overall, renewables accounted for over 5.3% of global power generation.
But despite the success of renewables in gaining ground, coal use is also growing, according to BP.
Last year, the 3% increase in coal consumption made it the world’s fastest-growing fossil fuel, driven largely by increased use in developing regions.
Overall, it accounted for 30.1% of total primary energy consumption, the highest proportion since 1970, suggesting a prioritisation of cheap rather than clean sources of energy.
BP said the biggest challenge for renewables was to sustain subsidies in areas where penetration is highest but economic growth sluggish, particularly European countries.
