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Clean Electricity Crosses 40% Globally in 2024, Solar Leads Growth Surge: Global Electricity Review 2025 by Ember

The Global Electricity Review 2025 by Ember reveals that clean electricity accounted for over 40% of the world’s power in 2024, propelled by a record 858 TWh rise in renewables. Solar was the standout, contributing 474 TWh (a 29% jump), with total global capacity surging by 585 GW. China alone added 250 TWh of new solar, and over 99 countries have doubled solar output in five years. Meanwhile, rising temperatures caused an additional 208 TWh in electricity demand, pushing total global demand up by 4.0% to 30,856 TWh.

Fossil generation increased slightly by 245 TWh, raising global CO₂ emissions to a record 14.6 Gt. Still, 79% of new demand was met by clean sources, indicating progress. In terms of technology, wind added 182 TWh, hydro rebounded post-drought with 182 TWh, and nuclear rose by 69 TWh. Notably, gas and coal also grew, mainly in China, India, and the U.S. India saw its solar capacity double and added 24 GW, positioning clean energy to meet 75% of its new demand by 2030. Clean energy demand is increasingly being driven by EVs, heat pumps, and data centers. Ember projects clean generation to grow by 9% annually, outpacing demand growth and steering the energy transition.