Renewable energy sources now generate over 40% of global electricity

A report from UK-based climate and 关键字2energy think tank Ember notes that clean energy sources accounted for 40.9% percent of electricity produced around the world in 2024.

The finding comes from data and estimates culled from 215 countries. The 118-page Global Electricity Review 2025 analyzes trends underlying the changes and the likely implications for energy sources and power sector emissions in the near future.

The push past the 40% mark for clean electricity in 2024 was primarily fueled by the unprecedented growth in solar energy, coupled with significant contributions from wind and a recovery in hydropower, alongside a small rise in nuclear power. China and the European Union (EU) demonstrated the most remarkable increases in clean electricity generation, with the former meeting 81% of its demand through renewables. Meanwhile, 71% of the EU's electricity came from clean sources.

Also worth noting: for the first time ever, the combined global generation from wind (8.1%) and solar (6.9%) exceeded that of hydropower (14.3%) last year.

Solar energy shone bright in 2024

The percentage growth of global solar generation in 2024 was a massive 29%. That represents the fastest increase in solar generation in six years, and double the generation in the last three years. Indeed, solar generation increased by 474 TWh (terawatt-hours; 1 TWh is enough to power a small city for a year) in 2024, reaching a total of 2,131 TWh – with China and the US leading the charge.