It is projected that electricity generated by most energy sources worldwide, with the exception of liquids, will increase in the coming years. Electricity from renewable sources is expected to experience the largest growth of up to 21.66 trillion kilowatt hours in 2050, from almost 7 trillion kilowatt hours in 2018. This projection sees increased consumption from all fuel sources, except for coal, where demand seems to have plateaued. Conventional sources like coal are increasingly being replaced by natural gas, renewables, and nuclear power.
What is the fastest growing resource?
Renewable electricity generation has steadily increased over the past years and is expected to continue along this trend. Using the currently available renewable sources for electricity generation could supply a large majority of U.S. electricity generation in the near future. This supply would require increased electric system flexibility which could be provided through a variety of supply and demand options like flexible electricity generation from conventional sources, grid storage, and more responsible grids.
Projected electricity generation worldwide from 2018 to 2050, by energy source (in trillion kilowatt hours)*
* The figures for 2020 through 2050 are projections. According to the source, the projections were made based on a business-as-usual trend estimate, given known technology and technological and demographic trends.
Figures were aggregated from several tables.
Figures were rounded.
Profit from additional features by authenticating your Admin account
Please authenticate by going to "My account" → "Administration".
Then you will be able to mark statistics as favourites and use personal statistics alerts.
Statista Accounts:
Access All Statistics. Starting from $468 / Year
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
EIA. (September 24, 2019). Projected electricity generation worldwide from 2018 to 2050, by energy source (in trillion kilowatt hours)* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 21, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/238610/projected-world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
EIA. "Projected electricity generation worldwide from 2018 to 2050, by energy source (in trillion kilowatt hours)*." Chart. September 24, 2019. Statista. Accessed January 21, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/238610/projected-world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
EIA. (2019). Projected electricity generation worldwide from 2018 to 2050, by energy source (in trillion kilowatt hours)*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 21, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/238610/projected-world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
EIA. "Projected Electricity Generation Worldwide from 2018 to 2050, by Energy Source (in Trillion Kilowatt Hours)*." Statista, Statista Inc., 24 Sep 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/238610/projected-world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
EIA, Projected electricity generation worldwide from 2018 to 2050, by energy source (in trillion kilowatt hours)* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/238610/projected-world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/ (last visited January 21, 2022)
