Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power generated more than 30% of the world’s electricity for the first time last year, marking a significant milestone in the shift towards clean electricity. This is according to a report on the global power system by climate thinktank Ember. Despite a rise in overall electricity demand, the report suggests that the world is making progress in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
Renewables have steadily increased their share of global electricity generation, growing from 19% in 2000 to over 30% last year. Solar power in particular has exceeded expectations, driving the acceleration in renewable energy adoption. The report covers data from 80 countries representing 92% of global electricity demand, with historic data from 215 countries.
According to Ember’s findings, solar energy was a key driver of electricity growth in 2023, adding more new generation capacity than coal. Solar has been the fastest-growing source of electricity for 19 years in a row and surpassed wind power as the largest source of new electricity. The surge in clean electricity is expected to lead to a 2% decrease in global fossil fuel generation, but it’s important to note that fossil fuels still play a significant role in global energy consumption. A separate study by the Energy Institute found that fossil fuels accounted for 82% of the world’s primary energy sources last year. However, world leaders are committed to increasing renewable energy to 60% of global electricity by 2030, which would require a significant expansion of renewable electricity capacity in the next six years and lead to a substantial reduction in power sector emissions.
