Electricity has come to become the most important form of energy for the modern world. It is the backbone of technological and economic development, and powers nearly every aspect our daily lives.
However, the production of electricity itself has become the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2021, the total Carbon emissions from the production of electricity (along with heat producers) totalled 14,644 MtCO2 - accounting for 44% of total emissions from the energy sector. This has steadily grown from 37% only a few years ago in 1990.
Electricity is produced from various sources.
The most traditional of these are fossil sources like coal, oil & natural gas. And more recently (at scale) from nuclear and renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal power, among others.
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Because of electricity’s production extremely high reliance on the traditional fossil sources (and hence greenhouse gas emissions), it has become a very important aspect of climate action.
There is tremendous pressure on the transition of electricity production to cleaner, more sustainable non-fossil sources.
It is primarily driven by,
- extensive improvements in electricity efficiency across sectors – to reduce electricity demand
- swift expansion of non-fossil sources of electricity generation (primarily electricity from renewables like solar and wind) – to replace greenhouse gas emitting fossil sources
In 2021, the total electricity generated was an astonishing 28,519,658 GWh.
61% of this was sourced from Fossils – oil, coal and natural gases.
With the growing demand in various aspects of our modern life, the demand for production of new electricity have also been increasing over the year !!
In fact, since 1990 production of electricity has grown by 140% alone. This is an increase of 16,630,293 GWh from 1990 to 2021.
60% (10,037,444 GWh) of this has come from new fossil sources and 40% (6,592,849 GWh) from new non-fossil sources.
This is expected to further increase as its application in transportation and heating/cooling grows with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps/hotter climate.
It must be noted that the % share of fossil and non-fossil sources in production of electricity has remained relatively consistent with fossils sources contributing between 60%-73%, since 1990.
Electricity is today produced from several sources through mechanism unique to each.
These are:
From Fossil Fuels: This includes coal, oil and natural gas. These have traditionally been the not only the most dominant sources of electricity production but as a result has made 'electricity' a high carbon emitting form of energy.
Coal alone, continues to supply more than one-third of global electricity generation, despite being the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel.
In 2021, 61% of total electricity produced worldwide was sourced from Fossil sources – oil, coal and natural gases.
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From Nuclear Power: Nuclear plants provide a significant portion of the world's electricity without direct CO2 emissions. This electricity is generated primarily through the process of nuclear fission.
In 2021, 10% of total electricity produced worldwide was sourced from nuclear power.
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From Renewable Sources: This category includes electricity produced from various renewable sources such as from flow of water in rivers and dams (Hydropower), from wind (Wind Power), from sunlight (Solar Power), from organic materials (Biomass), from the heat stored beneath the earth's surface (Geothermal Energy) and from ocean movements (Tidal/Wave Energy).
In 2021, 29% of total electricity produced worldwide was sourced from renewable sources.
Hydropower currently produces more electricity than all other renewable technologies combined & is expected to remain the world’s largest source of renewable electricity generation into the 2030s . Wind Power is the leading non-hydro renewable technology, while Solar Power makes up the fastest growing renewable electricity source.
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Electricity is used in a wide range of applications across various sectors.
However, some end-sectors demand much more of it than others.
In 2021, buildings (residentials, commercial and public services) and industry consumed the largest share of electricity produced. They account for almost 47% and 43% respectively making up 90% of electricity’s end use.
This has fairly remained consistent since 1990, when the two sectors accounted for 93%.
In 2021, transport consumed 2% of all electricity produced worldwide, fishing consumed less than 1%, and other non-specified sources consumed 5%.
Electricity generation in India is a significant contributor to the country's overall carbon emissions.
In 2021, the total carbon emissions from the production of electricity (along with heat producers) in India totalled 1,165.72 MtCO2 - accounting for 51% of total emissions from the energy sector.
This has steadily grown from 41% only a few years ago in 1990.
In 2021, the Total Electricity generated was 1,635,163 GWh (about 5% of global 28,519,658 GWh).
76% of this was sourced from Fossils – oil, coal and natural gases.
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Similar to the global trend, with the growing demand in various aspects of our modern life, the demand for production of new electricity has also been increasing in India over the year !!
In fact, since 1990 production of electricity has grown by 465% alone. This is an increase of 1,345,695 GWh from 1990 to 2021.
76% (1,024,293 GWh) of this has come from new fossil sources and 24% (321,402 GWh) from new non-fossil sources.
This is expected to further increase as its application in transportation and cooling grows with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and cooling technology in a hotter climate.
Like global electricity production trend, it must also be noted that in India, the % share of fossil and non-fossil sources in production of electricity has remained relatively consistent with fossils sources contributing between 73%-85%, since 1990.
The main sources of electricity generation in India are:
From Fossil Fuels: This includes coal, natural gas, and oil.
In 2021, 76% of total electricity produced in India was sourced from Fossil Sources – oil, coal and natural gases.
Coal alone supplied much as 72% of the national total, despite being the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel.
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From Nuclear Power: In 2021, 2.9% of total electricity produced in India was sourced from nuclear power.
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From Renewable Sources: In 2021, 22% of total electricity produced in India was sourced from renewable sources.
Hydropower produces the largest share of renewable electricity accounting for 46% of the renewable electricity generated in India. This is followed by Wind Power and Solar Power with 22% and 21% of the renewable electricity generation. Solar Power makes up the fastest growing renewable electricity source.
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Electricity in India is used in a wide range of applications across various sectors.
However just like its global trend, some Indian end-sectors demand much more of it than others.
In 2021, buildings (residentials, commercial and public services) and industry consumed the largest share of electricity produced. They account for almost 32% and 44% respectively making up 76% of electricity’s end use.
This has fairly remained consistent since 1990, when the two sectors accounted for 70%.
In 2021, agriculture/forestry consumed 19% of all electricity produced in India, transport consumed 2% while other non-specified sources consumed 4%.
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