Have solar and wind power increased significantly in recent years?
Solar and wind power generated a record 10% of global electricity in 2021, according to Ember, a nonprofit research group. This follows significant growth in solar and wind in the past few years, which have doubled as a share of global electricity since 2015. Sustainable energy as a whole, which includes other sources such as hydropower, biofuels and nuclear, accounted for 38% of global electricity production in 2021.
Many countries are responsible for this increase, with 50 receiving more than a tenth of their electricity from wind and solar.
In the U.S., renewable sources generated a 20% of electricity, according to the Energy Information Administration. In March, the EIA estimated that renewables will account for 44% of U.S. electricity supply by 2050.
As renewable sources grow, fossil fuel sources are projected to shrink. By 2050, the EIA estimates coal will drop from 23% to 10% and natural gas from 37% to 34% of the U.S. electricity supply.