A report notes that in 2024, clean energy sources accounted for 40.9% of electricity produced globally.
Data and estimates from 215 countries were analyzed in the 118-page Global Electricity Review 2025, which looks at trends in energy sources and power sector emissions.
This increase in clean electricity was driven by significant growth in solar energy, alongside wind and hydropower, with contributions from nuclear power as well. China and the European Union (EU) saw the most substantial increases in clean electricity generation, with renewables meeting 81% of China’s demand and 71% of the EU’s demand.
In 2024, the combined global generation from wind (8.1%) and solar (6.9%) exceeded that of hydropower (14.3%) for the first time.
Solar energy shone bright in 2024
In 2024, global solar generation saw a 29% increase, representing the fastest growth in six years. Solar generation doubled in the last three years, reaching a total of 2,131 TWh, with China and the US leading the way.
In the EU, solar power saw a 21% increase in 2024, surpassing coal generation for the first time. Solar energy has been the fastest-growing power source for 20 years in a row.
Wind worked great too
Wind energy contributed significantly to the global electricity supply in 2024, accounting for 8.1% of the mix. Global wind generation reached a new record high of 2,494 TWh in 2024, up by 182 TWh (+7.9%) from the previous year.
The growth in wind generation has slowed for the third year in a row, primarily due to less windy conditions compared to the previous year.
The US went big on wind and solar
In the US, wind and solar surpassed coal in electricity generation for the first time, accounting for 757 TWh in 2024. Gas still provides 43% of the electricity, with the US contributing to 57% of global growth in gas generation last year.
Despite the growth in renewables, India saw significant progress in wind and solar generation, making it the world’s third-largest generator in those sources.
Heatwaves were identified as a driver for a small increase in global fossil fuel generation in 2024, but clean generation met the majority of the demand increase. Overall, the trend is moving towards a greener future for electricity generation globally.
For more details, you can check out the full report over on Ember’s site.
