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According to a new report by think-tank Ember, more than 40% of the world’s electricity was generated cleanly in 2024. However, overall emissions are still on the rise.
Clean energy is steadily dominating more of the energy sector and makes up 40% of the world’s electricity, according to a new report by think-tank group Ember.
However, while that may sound like good news, overall carbon dioxide emissions have continued to rise to an all time high. Hot weather has pushed for greater demand and need for power.
As a result, fossil fuels use is still increasing at power stations.
While that may not be fantastic, the rise in cleaner energy is having an impact on the industry as a whole.
Solar power is and continues to be the fastest-growing energy source. The amount of electricity it has generated has doubled in the last three years, a trend that has been consistent since 2012, according to the BBC.
March 2025 was the second hottest on record. Ember has been predicting a drop off in carbon dioxide emissions for several years, though this has yet to happen; the think-tank doesn’t believe a big jump in fossil generation will occur in 2025 compared to last year.
What makes solar power so popular? Compared to other alternatives like wind turbines, it is much easier and cheaper to instal panels on buildings and in suburban areas. More than half of the increased use comes from China, with India’s solar panel installation rates doubling between 2023 and 2024.
Keep in mind that solar power is not yet the biggest contributor to clean energy globally.
Wind contributes just over 8% and hydropower makes up 14% of the world’s energy, making it the largest source. Nuclear power is at 9%, but is growing at a far slower rate compared to wind and solar.
The biggest problem is the huge demand for energy. The world needs more electricity than we can cleanly produce each year, meaning that the deficit has to be covered by fossil fuels. According to Ember’s report, demand grew by 4% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
