The share of electricity generated from low-carbon sources worldwide surpassed 40% for the first time, according to a new report released by Ember, the London-based independent energy think-tank. The report highlights a significant turning point in the global shift away from fossil fuels, driven primarily by record growth in solar and wind energy.

In 2024, clean sources – comprising renewables and nuclear – produced 40.9% of the world’s electricity, the highest level since records began in the mid-20th Century. This milestone was made possible by a surge in renewable output, with solar energy emerging as the primary engine of growth.

"Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition," said Phil MacDonald, managing director at Ember. "Paired with battery storage, solar is set to be an unstoppable force. As the fastest-growing and largest source of new electricity, it is critical in meeting the world’s ever-increasing demand for electricity."

Solar was responsible for more than half of the increase in renewable generation in 2024, contributing 474 TWh, according to Ember's Global Electricity Review 2024. This marks a 29% rise compared with the previous year, continuing two decades of annual double-digit growth. Solar’s total output has now more than doubled in just three years, providing over 2,000 TWh last year, and now accounts for nearly 7% of the global electricity mix.

Wind also contributed significantly, making up 8.1% of global generation, while hydro-electricity maintained its position as the single largest renewable source at 14%. Together, renewables added a record-breaking 858 TWh in 2024, 49% more than the previous peak recorded in 2022.

Record growth, but emissions still edge higher

Despite the historic shift towards cleaner power, global electricity-related emissions continued to rise slightly, increasing by 1.6% to reach an all-time high. This was due in part to a 1.4% uptick in electricity generation from fossil fuels, driven largely by extreme weather because of the increased need for air conditioning in many regions.

The report attributes nearly one-fifth of the year’s overall demand growth to heatwaves, which are becoming more common because of the climate crisis. This weather-related demand alone added 0.7% to global electricity consumption, skewing the short-term trend.

"Hotter weather drove the fossil generation increase in 2024, but we’re very unlikely to see a similar jump in 2025," said MacDonald. "Amid the noise, it’s essential to focus on the real signal."

Without the added strain from high temperatures, fossil fuel output would have risen just 0.2%, the report states, as clean sources supplied 96% of the underlying increase in demand.

Clean energy growth to outpace demand

Looking ahead, Ember predicts that growth in clean electricity will consistently outstrip global demand increases, paving the way for a sustained decline in fossil-based generation. Based on current trajectories, clean sources are expected to cover projected annual demand growth of 4.1% until 2030.

"The world is watching how technologies like AI and EVs will drive electricity demand," said MacDonald. "It’s clear that booming solar and wind are comfortably set to deliver, and those expecting fossil fuel generation to keep rising will be disappointed."

The increasing electrification of sectors such as transport and heating is already reshaping the power landscape. In 2024, expanded use of electric vehicles, heat pumps, artificial intelligence applications, and data centres together accounted for 0.7% of global electricity demand – double their contribution just five years ago.

China and India lead the shift

Rapid progress in emerging economies is also helping accelerate the transition. China, in particular, accounted for more than half the global increase in solar electricity in 2024. Clean sources met 81% of the country’s electricity demand growth last year, highlighting a major strategic shift in its energy policy.

India also saw a dramatic surge, doubling its solar capacity additions from the year before. The two countries are now among the most influential in global energy trends and are expected to play a central role in pushing fossil fuels into long-term decline.

“Cleantech, not fossil fuels, is now the driving force of economic development,” MacDonald concluded. “The era of fossil growth is coming to an end, even in a world of fast-rising demand.”

Ember’s sixth annual Global Electricity Review is based on country-level data from 88 countries, representing 93% of global electricity consumption. The organisation has also released an open dataset tracking electricity generation and trends across 215 countries and territories.

The report underlines that while fossil fuels still have a considerable share in the energy mix, their dominance is waning. With solar and wind poised to meet new demand and expand further, experts believe that the global electricity sector is entering a new era.