40% of world’s electricity from non-fossil sources but power sector’s carbon emissions at all-time high

Global electricity generation from clean sources crossed a major milestone in 2024, with non-fossil sources—comprising renewables and nuclear—accounting for more than 40 per cent of the world’s total power supply, according to a new report by energy think tank Ember.

According to the report, nuclear, solar, wind and other renewable energy sources collectively generated 40.9 per cent of global electricity last year, adding a record 858 terawatt-hours (TWh) to the energy mix.

Solar continued its rapid ascent with generation doubling over the past three years to surpass 2,000 TWh. Solar energy was the largest contributor to new electricity generation for the third consecutive year, adding 474 TWh and also remained the fastest-growing power source globally for the 20th year in a row, with a 29 per cent annual increase, it said.

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The report said that China led this growth, accounting for 53 per cent of the global increase in solar generation. “The country’s clean energy output met 81 per cent of its rise in electricity demand in 2024. The global solar boom shows no signs of slowing, with 2024 marking the highest-ever capacity installations—more than twice the volume recorded in 2022,” it added.

India also made significant gains, overtaking Germany to become the world’s third-largest generator of electricity from wind and solar. The country produced 215 TWh from these sources in 2024, well behind China’s 1,826 TWh and the United States’ 757 TWh, but nearly doubling its output in five years. Despite being a late entrant into these renewable sectors, India’s clean energy growth remains on a strong upward trajectory.

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However, the surge in clean power was not enough to offset rising emissions from the power sector. Higher temperatures around densely populated areas spiked demand for cooling in 2024 compared to the previous year. This led to a 0.7 per cent increase in electricity demand—equivalent to 208 TWh—and pushed overall demand growth to 4 per cent, significantly above 2023’s 2.6 per cent rise. As a result, fossil fuel-based generation grew by 1.4 per cent, causing global power sector emissions to rise by 1.6 per cent to a record 14.6 billion tonnes of CO₂.

The report also highlighted that hotter temperatures were the primary factor behind this increase: if weather conditions had remained stable, fossil generation would have risen by just 0.2 per cent with clean electricity covering 96 per cent of the growth in demand unrelated to heatwaves.

The jump in fossil-based power in 2024 (245 TWh) was nearly identical to that of 2023, despite a much sharper rise in overall electricity demand last year, the report said.