World Energy Use 2018

Energy is the basis of the world economy. In 2018 primary energy consumption grew at a rate of 2.9%, almost double its 10-year average of 1.5% per year. Natural gas, accounted for over 40% of the growth in primary energy. The use of fossil fuels to produce energy releases greenhouse gases which grew by 2.0%, the fastest growth for seven years. Happily, renewable power led by wind and solar power, continued to grow far more rapidly than any other form of energy at 14.5%.

from BP

So let’s take a look at energy consumed world wide during 2018 (the most recent data analyzed). According to data from the BP Statistical Review of World Energy (published annually) and the U.S. Energy Information Agency world consumption of fuel for energy production (as measured in millions of tonnes of oil equivalents) has increased by about 60% over the last 25 years. Over that time the mix of fuels has changed. Oil remains the most used fuel in the energy mix. Coal is still the second largest fuel despite continuing to lose share in 2018 down to 27% of all fuels. Natural gas increased its share to 24%. The contribution of hydro and nuclear power remained relatively flat in 2018 at 7% and 4%, respectively. Strong growth pushed up solar and wind share to 4% of the energy produced.

from BP showing fuel consumption by region 

Nonetheless, the world is on an unsustainable path: the longer carbon emissions continue to rise, the harder and more costly will be the eventual adjustment to net-zero carbon emissions. Decarbonizing the power sector while also meeting the rapidly expanding demand for power, particularly in the developing world, is perhaps the single most important challenge facing the global energy system over the next 20 years.

Despite the continuing rapid growth in renewable energy last year, it provided only a third of the required increase in power generation, with coal providing a broadly similar contribution. The increasing use of coal within the power sector in rapidly growing economies is estimated to have more than accounted for the entire growth of global coal consumption last year. Take a look at what the energy consumption per capita variation is from highest to lowest is. Remember this is total energy consumed and is not necessarily indicative of CO2 equivalents because it includes various types of energy, coal, natural gas (which has half the CO2 emissions of coal), petroleum, renewable energy etc. The total energy consumed and the mix of energy types together determine the CO2 equivalents emitted.

"Driven by higher energy demand in 2018, global energy-related CO2 emissions rose 1.7% to a historic high of 33.1 Gt CO2. While emissions from all fossil fuels increased, the power sector accounted for nearly two-thirds of emissions growth. Coal use in power alone surpassed 10 Gt CO2, mostly in Asia." In 2018 China emitted 9.5 Gt of CO2 or 29% of all emissions, the United States emitted 5.1 Gt of CO2 or 15% of all emissions and India emitted 2.2 Gt of CO2 or 7% of all emissions. CO2 in the atmosphere continues to climb.