Energy Shift
The Solar Power Duck Curve Explained
The Solar Power Duck Curve Explained
With the increasing demand for electricity as the world shifts away from fossil fuels, cleaner sources of energy like solar and wind are becoming more and more common.
However, as more solar power is introduced into our grids, operators are dealing with a new problem that can be visualized as the “duck curve.”
Origins of the Duck Curve
In a world heavily reliant on electricity, utility companies have gotten better at using data to anticipate demand and trying to operate as efficiently as possible.
Usually, power companies supply the least amount of power overnight while most consumers are sleeping, ramping up during the morning as people wake up and businesses get going. Then, at sunset, energy demand peaks.
Utility companies use models to predict demand and operate as efficiently as possible by supplying more power during times of higher demand. But the introduction of solar power has brought about problems in these demand curve models.
Since solar power relies on the Sun, peak solar production occurs around midday, when electricity demand is often on the lower end. As a result, energy production is higher than it needs to be, and net demand—total demand minus wind and solar production—falls. Then, when evening approaches, net demand increases, while solar power generation falls.
This discrepancy results in a net demand curve that takes the shape of a duck, and the duck curve gets more pronounced each year, as more solar capacity is added and net demand dips lower and lower at midday.
Why the Curve is Ruffling Feathers
The drop in net demand at midday basically creates two problems:
- Solar energy production wanes as the sun sets, just as demand for energy typically peaks. Utility companies are having to ramp up production to compensate for this gap, often overstressing a grid that is not yet set up for these peaks.
- Traditional sources of energy like nuclear and coal are only economic when they are running all the time. If you have to turn them off at mid-day because the power is supplied by solar, they become economically unfeasible.
Due to overproduction, solar power is already being wasted in some places where the technology is widely used, like California.
The problem is most intense during summer or spring when part of the solar panels has to be turned off to avoid overloading or even damaging the power grid.
Flattening the Duck
With more countries starting to rely on solar power, there are many potential solutions for the duck curve being explored (and implemented):
- Energy Storage: Overproduction of solar power during the day can be utilized by improving batteries and grid storage capacity.
- Powering Alternatives: Extra solar power can go towards powering energy generation at night, such as pumping water for hydroelectricity or overheating a material to dissipate energy later.
- Other Clean Sources: Unlike solar energy, sources like nuclear, hydroelectric, and geothermal can operate continuously and fill in the demand gap.
While grid managers study how to serve the new supply and demand, the duck curve is one of the greatest challenges facing renewable energy.
Energy Shift
Visualizing the Rise in Global Coal Consumption
China remains the largest coal consumer, making up 56% of the global total.
Visualizing the Rise in Global Coal Consumption
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Despite efforts to decarbonize the economy, global coal consumption surpassed 164 exajoules for the first time in 2023. The fossil fuel still accounts for 26% of the world’s total energy consumption.
In this graphic, we show global coal consumption by region from 1965 to 2023, based on data from the Energy Institute.
China Leads in Coal Consumption
China is by far the largest consumer of coal, accounting for 56% of the global total, with 91.94 exajoules in 2023.
It is followed by India, with 21.98 exajoules, and the U.S., with 8.20 exajoules. In 2023, India exceeded the combined consumption of Europe and North America for the first time.
Regionally, North America and Europe have seen a decline in coal consumption since the 1990s, while the Asia-Pacific region experienced a surge in demand during the same period.
| Year | Asia Pacific (Exajoules) | North America | Europe | Rest of the World | Total World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 114.14 | 19.48 | 15.86 | 11.47 | 160.95 |
| 2014 | 115.74 | 19.39 | 14.88 | 11.68 | 161.62 |
| 2015 | 115.00 | 16.89 | 14.24 | 11.11 | 157.25 |
| 2016 | 113.21 | 15.55 | 13.74 | 11.35 | 153.85 |
| 2017 | 115.67 | 15.30 | 13.29 | 11.23 | 155.50 |
| 2018 | 119.05 | 14.50 | 12.98 | 11.34 | 157.87 |
| 2019 | 121.94 | 12.49 | 11.06 | 11.45 | 156.95 |
| 2020 | 121.91 | 9.97 | 9.57 | 10.82 | 152.27 |
| 2021 | 127.75 | 11.24 | 10.44 | 11.12 | 160.56 |
| 2022 | 129.80 | 10.54 | 10.02 | 11.18 | 161.53 |
| 2023 | 135.70 | 8.83 | 8.39 | 11.11 | 164.03 |
Coal Production on the Rise
In addition to consumption, global coal production also reached its highest-ever level in 2023, at 179 exajoules.
The Asia-Pacific region accounted for nearly 80% of global output, with activity concentrated in Australia, China, India, and Indonesia.
China alone was responsible for just over half of total global production.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you want to learn more about fossil fuel consumption, check out this graphic showing the top 12 countries by fossil fuel consumption in 2023.
Energy Shift
Visualized: Global Coal Consumption by Region
For this graphic, Visual Capitalist has partnered with Range ETFs to explore world coal consumption in 2023 and find out who consumed the most coal.
World Coal Consumption by Region in 2023
Despite many nations transitioning away from fossil fuels, in 2023, world coal consumption reached a staggering 164 exajoules (EJ) of energy, a record high for any year.
For this graphic, Visual Capitalist has partnered with Range ETFs to explore the role coal plays in the global energy mix and determine which regions still consume large quantities of coal.
The Role of Coal in Global Energy
Coal is a significant player in the global energy mix, contributing 26% of the world’s energy in 2023, more than all non-fossil fuel sources combined. The only energy source that contributed more to the global energy mix was oil.
Here’s how that consumption breaks down by region:
| Region | Consumption (EJ) | Share % |
|---|---|---|
| China | 91.9 | 56.1% |
| Asia Pacific (excluding China) | 43.8 | 26.7% |
| Americas | 10.0 | 6.1% |
| Europe | 8.4 | 5.1% |
| CIS* | 5.5 | 3.4% |
| Africa | 4.1 | 2.5% |
| Middle East | 0.4 | 0.2% |
| Total | 164.0 | 100% |
Coal consumption has decreased in many regions. For example, both North America and Europe reduced their energy consumption from coal by 16% in 2023. However, a heavy reliance on coal in the Asia Pacific region has led to global coal consumption remaining essentially the same over the past 10 years.
In 2023, China increased its coal consumption from 88 EJ to nearly 92 EJ—totalling 56% of global coal consumption. This contributed significantly to Asia Pacific leading the world with a staggering 83% of global coal consumption.
The Importance of Coal
Easy access to existing infrastructure and reasonable prices have not only sustained global coal consumption over the last 10 years, but also paved the way for potential growth. Many developing nations are now expanding their coal consumption, presenting potential opportunities in the coal market.
For example, as per the Statistical Review of World Energy 2024, between 2022 and 2023, Bangladesh and Colombia saw double-digit percentage increases in year-over-year coal consumption: 41% and 53%, respectively.
Coal continues to play a critical role in the global energy mix, especially in the developing world, where its affordability makes it the current energy source of choice.
Learn more about the Range Global Coal Index ETF (COAL)
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