Global outlook on electricity generation 2022-2050, by energy source

It is projected that electricity generated worldwide will increase by nearly 50 percent in the coming three decades, to reach some 42 thousand terawatt-hours by 2050. That year, renewables are expected to be the largest source of global electricity, accounting for some 50 percent of electric power produced.

The boom of renewables

Electricity generation from renewable sources is expected to experience the largest growth in the displayed period, almost tripling between 2022 and 2050. The past decade saw the beginning of a boom in global installed renewable capacity, which recently surpassed three terawatts. In 2021, Asia was the region with the largest renewable electricity production, at 3.4 petawatt-hours.

Electricity from fossil fuels

Conventional sources like coal are increasingly being replaced. After peaking at more than 68 percent in 2007, the fossil fuel share in the global power generation has decreased steadily ever since. However, in 2022, coal was still the largest source of electricity generation worldwide, with a share of 34 percent.