According to an analysis by the specialist media Carbon Brief, for the first time in history, wind and solar power have supplied more new energy to the world than all other sources combined

Renewable energies have reached a historic milestone. In 2023, wind and solar together accounted for the largest share of new energy in the global energy mix, according to an analysis by the specialist website Carbon Brief, based on data from the Statistical Review of World Energy, published on 20 June on the Energy Institute website.

Global growth in energy production

On a global scale, energy production continues to increase every year. Between 2022 and 2023, this 2% increase was mainly driven by wind and solar power, which contributed 40% of this growth, slightly ahead of oil at 39%. Coal completed the podium with 20%, while nuclear and other renewables (excluding hydroelectricity) each contributed 4%.

Fossil fuels still dominant

For the first time, renewable energies have overtaken oil in terms of new energy production, points out Carbon Brief. However, fossil fuels still dominate the global energy mix, accounting for 80% of the total (31% for oil, 26% for coal and 23% for gas). Renewable energies account for 8% and nuclear for 4%.

The rise of solar and wind power

The growth of solar energy, particularly in China, is playing a crucial role in this dynamic. Nicolas Goldberg, energy expert at Colombus Consulting, points out that forecasts for the deployment of solar power have often been underestimated, and he is cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue.

Threat to the Paris Agreement’s +2°C target

Despite this progress, Nicolas Goldberg is reluctant to talk about a real turning point between 2022 and 2023. He points out that investments in fossil fuels are continuing in order to secure supplies and keep prices low, threatening the climate objectives of the Paris Agreement. This agreement aims to limit the increase in global temperature to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit this increase to 1.5°C.

Goldberg warns that continuing to invest in fossil fuels will jeopardise the achievement of these objectives. A real change of course will require a halt to these investments.