Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ In 2024, the world reached a major milestone in its journey toward cleaner energy, with more than 40% of electricity generated from sources that don’t rely on burning fossil fuels. This remarkable achievement, highlighted in a new report by global energy think tank Ember, paints a hopeful picture of the shift toward a greener power grid. Yet, the story is far from simple. Despite the rise in clean energy, carbon dioxide emissions, the primary driver of climate change, hit a record high, revealing the complex and often conflicting dynamics at play in the global energy landscape.
One of the key reasons for this paradox lies in the persistent and growing demand for electricity, which continues to outpace the expansion of renewables. Driven in part by extreme heatwaves across the globe, electricity usage soared as air conditioning became an essential coping tool for billions. This surge in consumption forced utilities to lean on fossil fuel-powered stations, particularly coal and gas, leading to an overall increase in emissions. According to Ember, fossil generation rose by 1.4% in 2024, with coal accounting for 34% of total generation and gas 22%.
Despite the increase in emissions, 2024 solidified solar energy’s role as the vanguard of the clean energy transition. For the twentieth consecutive year, solar power retained its position as the fastest-growing source of electricity. In fact, the energy generated from solar panels has doubled every three years since 2012. Phil Macdonald, managing director at Ember, captured this momentum succinctly: “Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition.”
Much of this solar expansion is concentrated in Asia, with China continuing to lead the global solar charge, contributing more than half of the global increase. India, too, made impressive strides, doubling its solar capacity between 2023 and 2024. Yet, even with these massive gains, solar still only contributes just under 7% to the global electricity supply, an amount equivalent to powering the entire nation of India.
Wind energy also played a significant role, contributing slightly over 8% to the electricity mix. Hydropower remained the largest clean energy source, generating 14% of global electricity, while nuclear power added another 9%. However, growth in both hydro and nuclear has slowed compared to the rapid ascent of wind and solar. This imbalance further underscores the pressure on emerging renewables to shoulder the burden of future energy needs.
What makes the 2024 figures particularly historic is that clean energy reached over 40% of total global electricity generation for the first time since the 1940s, a period when hydroelectric stations powered much of the world’s modest energy demands. Back then, electricity consumption was far lower, and the global energy infrastructure was simpler. Today, with demand rising dramatically (4% globally) in 2024 alone, the scale and stakes are vastly higher.
This surge in electricity demand, especially in fast-growing economies like India and China, has complicated efforts to cut emissions. These countries continue to rely on fossil fuels to keep pace with development needs, balancing economic growth with environmental concerns. While the rise of solar and wind offers a path forward, the data makes clear that renewables alone haven’t yet been able to curb emissions.
The Ember report paints both a sobering and inspiring picture: global CO2 emissions from electricity generation rose to an all-time high of 14.6 billion tonnes in 2024, largely due to the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. But within that reality lies a powerful undercurrent of change. With solar doubling its output every three years and gaining political and economic traction across continents, the stage is being set for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
As 2025 begins, experts suggest the world is unlikely to see a repeat of 2024’s emissions spike, especially if investments in clean energy continue at current rates. But if the goal is not just progress but also impact, true reductions in emissions, and a halt to global warming, then solar’s rise must be matched by sweeping structural changes, deeper global cooperation, and a serious commitment to leaving fossil fuels behind. The energy revolution is underway, but to win the climate race, the pace must accelerate.
