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Share of wind and solar in electricity production

The share of wind and solar is rising constantly (+1 point in 2021), reaching 10.7% of the global power mix.

Share of wind and solar in electricity production

The share of wind and solar is rising constantly (+1 point in 2021), reaching 10.7% of the global power mix.

Breakdown by country (%)
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World

Trend over 1990 - 2021 - %

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% in electricity production (2021) - %

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25%


The share of solar and wind in the UK’s power mix grew by 22 points between 2010 and 2021 to 25%.

The share of wind and solar is rising constantly (+1 point in 2021), reaching 10.7% of the global power mix.

In 2021, renewable power generation continued to increase at a steady pace (+16% for wind and +23% for solar), as global renewable installations remained dynamic (+93 GW for wind and +133 GW for solar). Offshore wind capacities additions more than tripled in 2021 (+21 GW) to nearly 56 GW, spurred by China (+17 GW). Despite the surge in thermal – especially coal-fired – power generation in a context of global economic recovery and revived electricity demand, the share of wind and solar in the global power mix increased again in 2021 to 10.7%, i.e., +8.4 pts more than in 2010. As in previous years, China accounted for most of the renewable capacity additions (+53 GW of solar and +14 GW of wind) and most of the growth in wind and solar power generation (+37% for wind and +29% for solar), which accounted for 12% of its power mix (+11 pts. since 2010). Ambitious renewable policies and falling technology costs contributed to raise power generation and the share of wind and solar in the US (+16% to 13% of the power mix), in Australia (+26% to over 20% of the power mix), in India (+17% to 8% of the power mix), and in Japan (+14% to 12% of the mix). Adverse wind conditions led to a declining wind generation in the EU and a low progression in South Korea but rising solar generation contributed to maintain the share of wind and solar in their power mixes at 19% in the EU and 5% in South Korea. The share of wind and solar is also progressing continuously in Brazil and Mexico (+12 pts. since 2010), whereas it remains marginal in large fossil fuel producing countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Colombia) and in Africa.

Global Energy Trends - 2022 Edition

An in-depth analysis of the past year’s key figures, with projections related to the current context (post-pandemic rebound and the energy crisis due to the war in Ukraine).

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