When world leaders gather in Dubai this November for the COP28 summit, their credentials in promoting low-carbon development will face intense scrutiny.
According to Climate Action Tracker’s September data, no single country’s mitigation efforts are in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. With the electricity sector being a major source of CO2 emissions, which countries are leading the way in low-carbon power? The answers may surprise you.
Hydropower China led the world in hydro capacity in 2022 with 414GW, accounting for around 30% of total global hydro capacity, according to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) data. While continued investments are expected, suitable sites are diminishing, and environmental concerns may curb expansion. As part of its Belt and Road Initiative, however, China has become an important international investor in hydropower for developing economies.
Brazil and the US took second and third places in 2022 with 110GW and 103GW, respectively. Having adopted hydropower early on, the US recently enshrined its critical role in decarbonized grids in the Inflation Reduction Act.
With massive turbines generating power at landmarks like Hoover Dam, the US remains a world leader in hydropower deployment.
Wind Energy China also led in wind power capacity in 2022 with 366GW. It invested $109 billion in new capacity last year, overtaking the US and Europe combined. According to a new Global Energy Monitor report, China’s adoption of renewables has been driven by a combination of government subsidies and pressure on provincial governments and energy firms to decarbonize.
China’s closest rival is the US, which has 141GW capacity in 2022. Now the number one renewable electricity source in the US, wind accounts for 10% of power generation and continues to grow rapidly.
Germany follows in third place with 66GW. After a recent dip in wind farm construction, Germany’s new higher targets for wind power aim to attract investors again and address barriers around licensing and land availability.
With wind farms across the country and along highways, Germany is a global leader in wind energy adoption.
Solar Power It’s a similar story for solar PV capacity. China again leads the pack with 393GW, followed by the US with 113GW. Their nearest competitor is Japan, which had 83GW of solar power capacity in 2022 according to IRENA data.
In the wake of the 2011’s Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan made solar expansion a priority. Since then, the island nation has emerged among the world’s largest consumers of solar power. With limited land area, Japan was also a pioneer in floating solar technology.
The Pacific Ring of Fire promises high potential for low-carbon geothermal power.
Geothermal Energy Tapping into the heat beneath the Earth’s surface provides a consistent source of renewable, low-carbon energy. But the potential is not equal everywhere. The US leads globally with a 2.7 GW geothermal capacity.
However, nearly 30% of global capacity is concentrated across Indonesia (2.4GW) and the Philippines (1.9GW) in Southeast Asia along the volcanic Pacific Ring of Fire, where potential abounds. Regional expansion is expected as these and neighboring countries work to achieve their net zero by 2050 commitments.
These countries are leading the way on low-carbon electricity
Nuclear Power Nuclear gained traction in the 1970s but faced setbacks from accidents in the 80s and 2000s. Against the backdrop of the energy crisis and net zero pledges, nuclear is making a comeback as a cost-effective, reliable, low-carbon energy. This has been aided by improved technology and reactor safety advancements.
According to IAEA statistics, the US currently has the largest nuclear fleet globally with 96GW, followed by France with 61GW and China with 53GW. The landscape could soon shift towards China, however, which has 22GW under construction and is expected to possess the world’s largest nuclear fleet by 2030.
For the world to reduce warming and transition toward sustainability, leading countries in low-carbon electricity have an important role to play in expanding capacity globally and assisting others in meeting critical mid-century benchmarks.