Global primary energy demand jumped by 5.8 percent last year and exceeded the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by 1.3 percent, BP said in its annual Statistical Review of World Energy 2022 on Tuesday.
Primary energy grew by 31 EJ in 2021, the largest increase in history and more than reversing the sharp decline in energy consumption seen in 2020. Primary energy demand in 2021 exceeded the 2019 pre-COVID levels by 8 EJ. The increase in primary energy in 2021 was driven by emerging economies, especially China, BP said, as COVID-related mobility restrictions were eased and industries bounced back last year.
While emerging economies boosted primary energy consumption last year, primary energy demand in developed economies was still below 2019 levels last year, BP said.
The rise in primary energy between 2019 and 2021 was entirely driven by renewable energy sources. The level of fossil fuel energy consumption globally remained unchanged between 2019 and 2021, with lower oil demand offset by higher natural gas and coal consumption, according to BP.