Clean Energy Growth Reaches 40% of Global Electricity, Yet Emissions Rise

The think-tank Ember reports that in 2024, clean energy contributed more than 40% to global electricity production for the first time since the 1940s. However, despite this growth, fossil fuel reliance increased due to soaring electricity demand from extreme weather conditions, resulting in record carbon dioxide emissions. Solar energy, particularly in China and India, is identified as a major driver of this shift.

More than 40% of the world's electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2024, marking a significant milestone, according to a new report by Ember, a global energy think tank. Despite this positive trend, the report notes that carbon dioxide emissions continue to reach all-time highs, driven primarily by an increase in the use of fossil fuels to meet soaring electricity demand heightened by extreme temperatures.

Solar power remains the fastest-growing energy source worldwide, with its output doubling every three years since 2012. Phil Macdonald, Ember's managing director, emphasized solar's role as a critical driver in the global energy transition while acknowledging that rising temperatures led to an uptick in fossil fuel generation this year. Interestingly, forecasts suggest that this spike in fossil fuel consumption may not be replicated in 2025.

The European Copernicus climate service characterized March 2025 as experiencing record-breaking temperatures, further highlighting the impact of climate change on energy demands. Although clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower have made strides, they still represent a smaller portion of the global energy mix. Solar energy accounts for approximately 7% of global energy supply, while wind contributes over 8%, and hydropower remains the largest at 14%.

The increase in clean energy production has paralleled a 4% rise in global electricity demand. Factors such as the growth of air conditioning usage in response to heatwaves have been significant contributors to this trend. Consequently, fossil fuel-generated electricity, primarily from coal and natural gas, also rose by 1.4%, leading to greenhouse gas emissions reaching a staggering 14.6 billion tonnes.

Fast-developing economies in Asia, particularly India and China, continue to expand their use of fossil fuels to satisfy their growing energy needs. This presents a complex picture, as efforts to bolster renewable energy initiatives coexist with heightened carbon emissions, posing challenges for achieving climate targets in the future.