In Short : India’s fossil fuel consumption increased by 8% in 2023, reflecting continued reliance on traditional energy sources amid economic growth. This rise highlights challenges in balancing energy demands with sustainability goals and transitioning to cleaner alternatives.
In Detail : Dubai : Fossil fuel consumption in India rose 8 per cent in 2023, accounting for almost all demand growth, while its share of overall consumption stood at 89 per cent, according to a report. According to an Energy Institute (EI) report, for the first time, more coal was used in India than Europe and North America combined.
EI and co-authors KPMG and Kearney on Thursday released the 73rd annual edition of the Statistical Review of World Energy, presenting for the first time full global energy data for 2023. The report suggests that five key stories emerge from the 2023 data, starting with record global energy consumption, with coal and oil pushing fossil fuels and their emissions to record levels.
“Global primary energy consumption overall was at a record absolute high, up 2 per cent on the previous year to 620 Exajoules (EJ). Global fossil fuel consumption reached a record high, up 1.5 per cent to 505 EJ (driven by coal up 1.6 per cent, oil up 2 per cent to above 100 million barrels for first time, while gas was flat),” said the report. As a share of the overall mix they were at 81.5 per cent, marginally down from 82 per cent last year. Emissions from energy increased 2 per cent, exceeding 40 gigatonnes of CO2 for the first time.
Renewable generation, excluding hydro, was up 13 per cent to a record global high of 4,748 TWh, it said. This growth was driven almost entirely by wind and solar and accounted for 74 per cent of all net additional electricity generated.
As a share of primary energy use, renewables (excluding hydro) were at 8 per cent, or 15 per cent, including hydro. Meanwhile, the ongoing Ukraine conflict has cemented gas rebalancing in Europe.
European gas demand fell 7 per cent, following a fall of 13 per cent the previous year. Russia’s share of EU gas imports fell to 15 per cent, down from 45 per cent in 2021, with LNG imports outflanking piped gas to Europe for a second year in a row. Dependence on fossil fuels in major advanced economies is likely to have peaked.
In Europe, fossil fuels fell to below 70 per cent of primary energy for the first time since the industrial revolution, driven by demand reduction and renewable energy growth. US consumption of fossil fuels fell to 80 per cent of total primary energy consumed.
Growth economies struggle to curb fossil fuel growth, but renewables accelerate in China. In Africa, primary energy consumption fell in 2023 by 0.5 per cent. Fossil fuels accounted for 90 per cent of overall energy consumption, with renewables (excluding hydro) at only 6 per cent of electricity.
China’s full return post-Covid saw fossil fuel use increase to a new high, up 6 per cent, but as a share of primary energy it has been in decline since 2011, down to 81.6 per cent in 2023, the report said. China added 55 per cent of all renewable generation additions in 2023 — more than the rest of the world combined. It also overtook Europe on an energy per capita basis for the first time.
