Development of wind and solar energy in 2020

Published on: September 28, 2020 / Update from: September 28, 2020 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Total global electricity production fell slightly in 2020, with a number of factors attributed to COVID-19 slowing growth. However, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are booming.

According to new data from climate think tank Ember, global electricity generation from solar and wind has increased by 19 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Large countries such as China, India, Russia and the USA are recording massive increases in the production of wind and solar power. Russia is on the rise in renewable energy, with a 55 percent increase in solar energy and a staggering 236 percent increase in wind energy.

Electricity generated from wind and solar energy has doubled in the last five years, according to Ember and Bloomberg. While the global share of wind and solar energy generated annually has generally increased by less than one percent, it will increase by over 3 percent by 2020.

The increase in wind and solar production coincides with a steady decline in global coal production. Countries around the world are moving noticeably away from fossil fuels, but some analysts expect new solar and wind farms to plateau soon. China remains the world leader in coal production and electricity generation, but China is also a world leader in new renewable energy plants, dams and nuclear power plants.

Annual percentage change in electricity production in the following countries, 2019-2020