Every year for the past 69 years, BP has released a report called the “Statistical Review of World Energy.” It is an analysis tracking energy growth, usage, and trends throughout the year. This time, the company has released the report about 2019 under a cloud of coronavirus pandemic. It reveals that renewables were the largest source of new energy, and global power provided by clean sources equaled coal and passed nuclear for the first time.
BP CEO Bernard Looney said in a statement:
“Led by wind and solar power, renewable energy increased by a record amount, accounting for over 40% of the growth in primary energy in 2019. At the same time, coal consumption fell for the fourth time in the past six years, with its share in the global energy mix falling to its lowest level for 16 years.”
Clean sources – which include nuclear, wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal sources – were able to match coal in power output due to a historic fall in coal-fired power worldwide. However, there were still record highs for gas, oil, and CO2 emissions. And, coal remains the largest single source of power generation. Read more…
