In-Depth: BP’s Global Data for 2017 Shows Record Highs for Coal and Renewables
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
Carbon Brief runs through the 2018 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, which, for the first time, covers all sources of electricity and the key materials needed for electric vehicles.
Global Solar Capacity Grew Faster than Fossil Fuels in 2017, Says Report
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
For the first time in 2017, global solar capacity grew faster than all fossil fuels combined, including coal, oil and gas-fired power stations. That’s one finding of the latest annual report on global trends in renewable energy finance, from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).
The EU Got less Electricity from Coal than Renewables in 2017
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
For the first time, the European Union generated more electricity from wind, solar and biomass than from coal in 2017, according to new analysis from two thinktanks.
Low-Carbon Sources Generated more UK Electricity than Fossil Fuels in 2017
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
For the first time in 2017, more than half of the electricity generated in the UK came from low-carbon sources, Carbon Brief analysis shows. The milestone means that, between them, nuclear and renewables generated more electricity in 2017 than all fossil fuels combined.
Renewables will Give more People Access to Electricity than Coal, says IEA
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
Today’s new IEA report shows that coal’s role in expanding electricity access is set to decline dramatically. Renewables, both on and off the grid, will provide most new connections, as the population without access falls by another third to 700 million. If the world hopes to meet its goal of universal electricity access by 2030, then the IEA report suggests it is solar – not coal – that will bridge the gap.
Mapped: How the US Generates Electricity
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
The US electricity system is often described as the world’s largest machine. It is also incredibly diverse, reflecting the policy preferences, needs and available natural resources of each state. Carbon Brief has plotted the nation’s power stations in an interactive map (above) to show how and where the US generates electricity.
Seven Charts Show Why the IEA Thinks Coal Investment Has Already Peaked
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
Global investment in coal-fired power plants is set to decline “dramatically” after passing an all-time high during the past several years, says the International Energy Agency (IEA). That’s one of the most striking messages from World Energy Investment 2017, published today (11th July). The report, now in its second year, offers a comprehensive picture of energy investment from fossil-fuel extraction through to transport, energy efficiency and power networks.
Dramatic Shift in UK Government Outlook for Gas and Clean Energy
By Simon Evans, Carbon Brief
The future UK electricity mix will have more renewables, batteries and interconnectors than expected, according to long-awaited new government projections. The shift in Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) modelling, which includes a marked reduction in new gas capacity, parallels similar changes made by National Grid.