Report: 2023 a Big Year for Renewable Energy
Report: 2023 a Big Year for Renewable Energy VOA Learning English
sdgtalks
A Record-breaking Year for Renewable Energy Sources
A recent report highlights the significant progress made in renewable energy sources in 2023. According to Ember, a London-based research group, clean energy sources accounted for 30 percent of global electricity production for the first time. The increasing number of solar and wind farms has enabled billions of people to access clean energy on a daily basis.
Hydropower
Hydroelectric dams remained the primary source of clean energy last year, as they have been in previous years. However, dry weather conditions and droughts in India, China, and North America led to a five-year low in hydropower production. Research indicates that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and severity of droughts.
The growing demand for electricity in 2023, which increased by approximately 2 percent (equivalent to Canada’s annual consumption), was driven by various factors. Heat pumps, which provide efficient heating and cooling solutions for buildings, electric vehicles, and electrolyzers used to extract hydrogen from water for energy production, were among the technologies contributing to this increased demand. These technologies play a crucial role in addressing climate change.
Additionally, the rising demand for electricity was fueled by the need to power new data centers and provide air conditioning in response to increasing global temperatures.
Solar
Solar energy represented the largest share of new clean energy sources in 2023. The capacity of solar power installations exceeded that of coal power by more than two-fold. This marks the 19th consecutive year in which solar energy has been the fastest-growing source of electricity generation. The report predicts an even greater surge in solar installations in 2024.
China led the world in renewable energy additions, accounting for 51 percent of new solar power and 60 percent of new wind power installations in 2023. Collectively, China, the European Union, the United States, and Brazil were responsible for 81 percent of new solar generation.
Coal
Despite the remarkable growth in clean energy, fossil fuels, particularly coal, remained the dominant source of global electricity generation in 2023. Some countries resorted to burning coal to compensate for the loss of hydroelectric power caused by drought-induced water shortages.
China accounted for 55 percent of global coal generation, with coal contributing to 60 percent of China’s electricity production. China, India, Vietnam, and Mexico were the primary contributors to the overall increase in coal generation.
Scientists emphasize the urgent need to reduce fossil fuel consumption as it releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. While experts anticipate a further increase in global electricity consumption in 2024, the projected growth in renewable energy generation could lead to a 2 percent decline in fossil fuel-based energy production.
I’m John Russell.
Isabella O’Malley reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.
Words in This Story
- renewable — adj. able to be replaced by nature
- drought — n. a period of too little rainfall
- fossil fuel – n. a fuel such as coal, oil, or natural gas
- generate – v. to produce something or cause something to be produced
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | Percentage of electricity produced from clean energy sources |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | Impact of climate change on hydropower production due to droughts |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable | Increased demand for electricity for heat pumps, electric vehicles, and electrolyzers |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities | Increased demand for electricity to feed new data centers and for air conditioning in hotter places |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | Percentage increase in solar power installations compared to coal power installations |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency | Percentage drop in energy generated from fossil fuels |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Percentage decrease in coal generation worldwide |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
The article discusses the increasing share of renewable energy sources in global electricity production, specifically mentioning solar and wind farms. This aligns with SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
SDG 13: Climate Action
The article highlights the impact of climate change on hydropower production due to droughts. This connects to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The article mentions the increased demand for electricity for heat pumps, electric vehicles, and electrolyzers, which are technologies that provide solutions to climate change. This relates to SDG 9, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article discusses the increased demand for electricity to feed new data centers and for air conditioning in hotter places. This connects to SDG 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
The article highlights the record-breaking year for renewable energy sources, with 30 percent of electricity produced worldwide coming from clean energy sources. This indicates progress towards achieving SDG 7.2.
SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
The article mentions that droughts caused by climate change led to a five-year low in hydropower production. This indicates the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, aligning with SDG 13.1.
SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
The article discusses the increased demand for electricity for heat pumps, electric vehicles, and electrolyzers, indicating the need to upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to support sustainable technologies. This aligns with SDG 9.4.
SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities
The article mentions the increased demand for electricity to feed new data centers and for air conditioning in hotter places. This indicates the need to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, aligning with SDG 11.6.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article provides indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Percentage of electricity produced from clean energy sources: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 7.2, which aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- Impact of climate change on hydropower production due to droughts: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 13.1, which focuses on strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
- Increased demand for electricity for heat pumps, electric vehicles, and electrolyzers: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 9.4, which aims to upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
- Increased demand for electricity to feed new data centers and for air conditioning in hotter places: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 11.6, which focuses on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.
- Percentage increase in solar power installations compared to coal power installations: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 7.2, which aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- Percentage drop in energy generated from fossil fuels: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 7.3, which targets doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
- Percentage decrease in coal generation worldwide: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 13.2, which focuses on integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs |
|---|
