Another milestone in the use of low-carbon energy sources was met last year with renewables and nuclear providing more than 40% of electricity generation, according to a new report by energy think tank Ember.

The Global Electricity Review 2025 found that renewables were the main driver of overall clean growth in 2024, adding a record 858 TWh, 49% more than the previous high in 2022.

Solar was the largest contributor for the third year running, adding 474 TWh to reach a share of 6.9%, while solar electricity doubled in just three years to give more than 2,000 TWh, making this the fastest-growing power source for the 20th year in a row.

More than half of the increase in solar generation was in China, with the country’s clean generation growth meeting 81% of its demand increase in 2024. 

Likewise, India’s solar capacity additions doubled last year compared to 2023, with the think tank predicting that the turn away from fossil fuels by these two economic powerhouses will help tip the balance towards a decline in fossil generation at a global level.

Meanwhile, wind generation grew to 8.1% of global electricity, while hydro’s share remained steady at 14% – keeping it the single largest renewable source.

Ember said that the study shows clean generation growth is set to outpace demand in the coming years, marking what it hopes will be the start of a permanent decline in fossil fuel generation. 

The current expected growth in clean generation would be sufficient to meet a demand increase of 4.1% per year to 2030, which is above expectations for demand growth.

“Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition,” said Phil MacDonald, Ember’s managing director. 

“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.”

Alongside the new report, Ember also released the first open dataset on electricity generation in 2024, covering eighty-eight countries that account for 93% of global electricity demand.

Analysis of the data shows that, despite the rise in renewables, fossil generation saw a small 1.4% increase last year due to surging electricity demand, pushing global power sector emissions up 1.6% to an all-time high.

Heatwaves were the main driver behind the increased use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, mainly through the need for more cooling, although increasing use of electricity for AI, data centres, electric vehicles and heat pumps is contributing to global demand growth. 

Combined, growing use of these technologies accounted for a 0.7% increase in global electricity demand in 2024, double what they contributed five years ago.

“The world is watching how technologies like AI and EVs will drive electricity demand,” continued 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.”

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The UK Government is now in the midst of its own renewed push towards renewables, having introduced a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament, which could see a restructuring of energy distribution throughout the grid.

Through the Bill, changes will be introduced to help achieve the UK’s clean power goals, including wind and solar power being prioritised for grid connections and a new “first ready, first connected” system that will prioritise projects needed to deliver clean power.

Scotland has seen its share of renewable projects, too, including a deal worth £800 million for the creation of two of Europe’s largest battery storage sites in South Lanarkshire and Fife, as well as plans to create a major renewables hub in Orkney with a £5 million Scottish Government grant.