Global power sector emissions by fuel 2023

Global emissions from coal-fired electricity generation increased 1.7 percent in 2023, to a record high of 9.45 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂). Coal-fired electricity accounted for more than 66 percent of total global power sector emissions that year. Coal is by far the largest source of electricity generation worldwide, but it is also the most polluting fossil fuel, emitting twice as much carbon as natural gas when burned.

Power sector emissions worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by source (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

Characteristic	Coal	Gas	Other Fossil*	Bioenergy	Hydro	Solar	Wind	Nuclear	Other Renewables**
2023	9,452.11	3,854.13	519.01	146.76	99.74	77.38	26.77	13.8	3.38
2022	9,290.38	3,816.1	559.08	146.1	102.14	62.89	24.12	13.61	3.36
2021	9,177.86	3,755.86	546.64	142.4	101.59	50.17	21.22	14.2	3.28
2020	8,515.52	3,655.96	508.63	131.72	103.2	40.55	17.95	13.6	3.25
2019	8,880.84	3,676.94	549.32	124.56	100.39	33.53	16.06	14.1	3.13
2018	9,089.56	3,592.84	584.68	117.56	99.26	27.33	14.34	13.58	3.08
2017	8,759.56	3,457.23	650.3	110.96	96.41	21.16	12.83	13.23	2.97
2016	8,505.93	3,382.64	698.45	104.14	95.33	15.59	10.72	13.09	2.85
2015	8,476.55	3,221.65	736.24	103.03	92.27	12.17	9.29	12.87	2.75
2014	8,791.24	3,048.83	737.72	94.82	92.02	9.4	7.93	12.67	2.62
2013	8,641.41	2,934.98	776.85	87.37	90.07	6.27	7.14	12.39	2.42
2012	8,230.63	2,972.87	807.78	80.24	86.97	4.61	5.96	12.31	2.36
2011	8,197.29	2,785.5	773.41	73.78	82.87	3.02	4.95	13.23	2.3
2010	7,780.12	2,758.41	703.61	70.35	81.44	1.53	3.89	13.82	2.25
2009	7,325.38	2,509.01	704.02	61.25	77	0.94	3.12	13.46	2.21
2008	7,444.8	2,487.05	769.67	56.91	77.1	0.56	2.51	13.63	2.13
2007	7,439.97	2,406.41	786.26	53.31	72.76	0.35	1.98	13.68	1.99
2006	7,001.09	2,229.6	772.93	48.7	71.69	0.26	1.55	13.96	1.91
2005	6,627.33	2,100.5	840.94	45.63	69.16	0.19	1.22	13.78	1.83
2004	6,282.57	2,007.44	830.32	41.19	66.57	0.13	1	13.73	1.82
2003	6,074.01	1,865.91	852.1	37.77	62.07	0.1	0.73	13.12	1.75
2002	5,671.21	1,778.85	836.26	34.81	62.06	0.08	0.6	13.4	1.72
2001	5,434.49	1,673.06	845.17	31.92	60.92	0.07	0.45	13.18	1.66
2000	5,359.04	1,570.5	871	33.19	62.45	0.05	0.36	12.82	1.64

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Release date

July 2024

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Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2000 to 2023

Supplementary notes

Figures have been rounded

Figures aim to include full lifecycle emissions including upstream methane, supply-chain and manufacturing emissions, and include all gases, converted into CO₂ equivalent over a 100 year timescale.

*Other fossil includes generation from oil and petroleum products, as well as manufactured gases and waste.**Other Renewables generation includes geothermal, tidal and wave generation.

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