The reduction in coal-power has been a boon for wind and solar energy that saw a record 10% of the world’s electricity in the H1 of 2020, as per a report on Thursday.
As wind and solar energy double their share of global electricity despite a drop in power demand due to the Covid-19, the decarbonization of the power grid has helped immensely to pick up the slack, and yet, with much to do to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
According to an analysis report by U.K. based environmental group Ember, wind and solar renewables have accounted for 1,129 terawatt-hours in the months January-June, compared to 992 in the first six months last year.
Yet the growth of renewables needs to pick up pace to reach climate goals and the usage of coal use needs to fall by about 79% by 2030 as compared to the levels in 2019- a fall of 13% with each passing year throughout the decade to come, Ember said.
Since 2015, many countries have transitioned to both solar and wind renewable sources. Japan, China, and Brazil picked up from 4% to 10%; the US increased from 6% to 12%; while India met with a rise from 3.4% to 9.7%.
Reaching climate goals would require to replace coal power with low-carbon sources.