Electricity
Electricity generation fell by 0.9% – more than the decline in 2009 (-0.5%), the only other year in our data series (which starts in 1985) when electricity demand fell
At a global level, coal is the dominant fuel for power generation, however its share fell 1.3 percentage points to 35.1% in 2020, the lowest level in our data series.
The share of renewables rose to record levels last year (11.7%), with the combined share of renewables and gas-fired power (35.1%) equalling coal for the first time.
Europe’s share of renewables in power generation reached 23.8%, surpassing nuclear energy and making Europe the first region where renewables are the dominant source of power generation.
Share of global electricity generation by fuel (%)
Renewables share of power generation by region (%)
Natural gas is the dominant fuel used for power generation in North America, CIS, the Middle East and Africa. More than half of the power in South and Central America is hydroelectricity, while in Asia, coal comprises 57% of the generation mix – a far higher share than any other region.
In Europe, renewables (including biopower) are the largest source of power generation with 23.8% for the first time, overtaking nuclear on 21.6%. Generation in Europe is spread fairly evenly between renewables, nuclear, gas (19.6%) and hydro (16.9%).
Regional electricity generation by fuel 2020 (%)
