Renewable Power is on a Roll, but Heat & Fuel Still Need the Big Push
Electricity is partying hard with a record 30 % share of global generation, but the rest of the energy family—heat and fuels—has been left out in the cold. Without a major lift in those sectors, the world’s aim to ditch fossil fuels feels more like a marble race than a sprint.
The Back‑Wall of Barriers
- No all‑carrier focus: we’re busy with wind and solar but forget heat and liquid fuels.
- Tech monopoly: wind and sun dominate, leaving the rest out of the spotlight.
- Policy hiccups: permits, subsidies and grid hookups act as gatekeepers.
- Investment inequality: some regions get the green splash, others get the grey grind.
- Fossil fuels still get a seat at the table—they’re bleeding money to the renewables’ table.
Why the Numbers Matter
Heat takes 49 % of the global bill, fuels up 29 %, and electricity lags at 22 %. In 2022, renewable electricity hit that sweet 30 % sweet spot, thanks to decades of policy love. Yet across all energy categories, re‑electrics make up only 12.7 % of the whole system—Yikes!
Call to Action
“If we want to kick fossil fuels to the curb, we’ve gotta double down on heat and fuel,” says REN21’s Rana Adib. She adds a human twist—over 700 million folks in Africa and Asia still live without lights. That’s a heap of people needing a boost.
Heat & Fuel: The Silent Sufferers
Renewable shares in those categories are slivers: 3.6 % in fuels and 9.2 % in heat. It’s like having a great party but leaving half the guests outside.
IEA and IRENA both predict that by 2050, electricity will still be a half‑and‑half split of final energy. If we stare at that picture, we know we can’t afford to keep ignoring the other two players—heat and fuel.
The Grid Blues
Even though power tech is roaring, over 1 TW of new projects are stuck in the hallway waiting for grid access. Permit delays and missing infrastructure are like a traffic jam in a city that’s supposed to be all electric.
Adib jokes that building renewables is like making cars before roads exist—“You’d wait for the roads, not the cars.” When the grid is your road, you better build it fast!
International Moves
G7 leaders are writing a new chapter: pledge to add 150 GW of offshore wind and more than 1 TW of solar by 2030. A pledge worth celebrating, but the real test is turning it into actions: policies, tech, balanced funding, phase‑out of fossil fuels, and clearing site‑blocking bottlenecks.
Who’s Leading the Charge?
China stole the show in 2022, grabbing 55 % of worldwide renewable investment—mostly the sun and breeze, leaving Africa and the Middle East with a mere 1.6 % share.
Joel Nana from Sustainable Energy Africa raves, “Africa is a goldmine of renewables. It’s time we hustle and empower a generation that thrives, not just fares.”
Money Matters
Out of USD 640 B in global power investments last year, 26 % still went to fossil or nuclear. That’s like filling a fire‑proof bunker for an eternal future that turns out to be a quick‑destroyer.
Bruce Douglas of the Global Renewables Alliance chimes, “Renewables aren’t just a switch; they’re an industry. Building factories, training people, and keeping the bread basket is the real recipe for a lasting shift.”
So, the next big energy conversation isn’t just about the lights turning on. It’s about making sure the heat on your stove, the fuel powering factories, and the electricity for homes all ride the green wave. And it’s a wave we can’t wave off—it’s yours (the reader’s) to catch, because the future is lit!
