Brazil leads G20 countries in decarbonization of the energy sector

Country generated 89% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2022, shows study by Ember
2 minute(s) of reading
Brasil lidera países do G20 em descarbonização do setor de energia
Participation of wind energy has doubled and solar energy has quadrupled in the G20 since 2015. Source: Freepik

O Brazil – which will host the meeting of G20 next year – has the greater share of clean electricity among all countries in the group. The Brazilian position is one of the highlights of the 4th annual edition of Global Electricity Review, published today (15) by Ember.

According to the survey, the Brazil generated 89% of its electricity from clean sources in 2022, which includes 63% of hydropower, 12% of wind power and 3% of solar power.

Fossil fuels, in turn, were responsible for 11% of the country's generation last year, with the majority of this portion coming from gas (7%).

According to the analysis, the India, current host, is much more late in decarbonizing its electricity system. The country has the second largest dependence on coal, after South Africa, but is already getting 9% of its electricity from solar and wind.

“Brazil is far ahead of India in ensuring a clean electricity system. G20 hosts can learn from each other's successes“, said Dave Jones, director of data insights at Ember.

The document also reveals that the solar and wind energy reduced the share of coal energy in southern countries G-20 since the beginning of the Paris Agreement. 

Altogether, the two sources reached a combined shareholding last year of 13% compared to the 5% that existed in 2015. 

During this seven-year period, the participation from the wind energy doubled and the participation of solar quadrupled in the G20“Replacing coal power with wind and solar is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet for the climate,” said Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior analyst at Ember. 

“Solar and wind energy not only reduce emissions quickly, but they also lower electricity costs and reduce health-damaging pollution,” the analyst highlighted. 

Picture of Henrique Hein
Henry Hein
He worked at Correio Popular and Rádio Trianon. He has experience in podcast production, radio programs, interviews and reporting. Has been following the solar sector since 2020.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Receive the latest news

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter