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Ember reports that renewables surpass 40% clean power globally
23/4/2025
News
Positive news from energy analyst Ember, which reports that the world has reached ‘a new milestone’ as low-carbon sources – renewables and nuclear – provided 40.9% of the world’s electricity generation in 2024, passing the 40% mark for the first time since the 1940s.
The energy think tank says: ‘Renewables were the main driver of overall clean growth, adding a record 858 TWh in 2024, 49% more than the previous high in 2022.’
Solar was the largest contributor for the third year running, adding 474 TWh to reach a 6.9% share, according to Ember’s latest global electricity report. Solar was the fastest growing power source (up 29%) for the 20th year in a row. Solar electricity has doubled in just three years, providing more than 2,000 TWh of electricity in 2024. More than half of the increase in solar generation in 2024 was in China, with China’s clean generation growth meeting 81% of its demand increase in 2024. India’s solar capacity additions in 2024 doubled compared to 2023.
‘Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition,’ remarks Phil MacDonald, Ember’s Managing Director.
Wind generation grew to 8.1% of global electricity, while hydro’s share remained steady at 14% – and remains the single largest renewable source.
The report shows that clean generation growth is set to outpace faster-rising demand in the coming years, marking the start of a permanent decline in fossil generation. The current expected growth in clean generation would be sufficient to meet a demand increase of 4.1% per year to 2030, which is above expectations for demand growth, notes Ember.
