The 52 Year Evolution of Our Global Energy Mix

In 1971, renewables—biofuels, hydro, and nuclear—accounted for 14% of global energy use. By 2019, this had risen to just 19%, with nuclear growing the most, from 1% to 5%, while biofuels remained the largest contributor at 9%. Meanwhile, coal’s share stayed steady, oil declined from 44% to 31%, and natural gas rose from 16% to 23%. Solar and wind were negligible in 1971 but reached 2% by 2019.

By the end of 2023, renewable energy adoption surged to meet 43% of global energy demand, doubling since 2019. Solar led with 1,419 GW (37% of capacity), followed by hydro (1,268 GW) and wind (1,017 GW). Asia and the Middle East drove growth, with Asia accounting for 50.7% of global renewable capacity. Nuclear and biofuels have diminished, highlighting a shift toward newer technologies.