Coal’s presence in the energy market has been steadily growing, with an average rise of 3.9% each year for the past decade, according to data from the BP Statistical Review.
This makes coal the world’s fastest-growing fossil fuel.
Despite the US’s obsession with fraccing and cheaper shale gas, coal production has been steady and much of it was exported to Europe where coal usage is on the rise.
Similarly, coal is very much in demand in China, which accounted for 67% of coal’s global growth.
India also made a significant contribution to coal’s worldwide popularity, accounting for 21% of global growth.
However, renewable energy began to make its mark on the energy market.
The use of wind farms for generating electricity rose by 21% last year while solar power usage grew even more rapidly by more than a third.
Oil remained the world’s leading fuel, with 33% of the global energy market. Despite retaining the top spot, oil usage was at a record low, with the lowest market share since records began in 1965.
