In brief
Despite a record share of clean energy in the global electricity mix, carbon emissions rose to unprecedented levels, sparked by increased energy demands due to extreme weather conditions.
More than 40% of the world's electricity was generated from clean energy sources in 2024, according to a newly released report by think-tank Ember. While this signifies a remarkable milestone, it comes against a backdrop of rising carbon dioxide emissions, which have surged to an all-time high, largely driven by increased energy consumption resulting from hotter temperatures.Solar energy remains the frontrunner in this clean energy boom, having experienced a doubling in its output over the past three years. Phil Macdonald, the managing director of Ember, emphasized the importance of recognizing this dynamic, stating, "Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition." He cautioned that the recent spike in fossil fuel generation due to high temperatures is unlikely to replicate in the upcoming year.According to the European Copernicus climate service, March 2025 recorded the second hottest temperatures ever, extending a trend of extreme heat. Ember has long predicted that CO2 emissions would begin to decline, but that has not yet materialized as the global appetite for electricity continues to grow.Solar energy has solidified its position as the fastest-growing energy source globally for two decades running. Ember’s data indicates that solar generation has doubled every three years since 2012, with the lion's share of growth occurring in China. Meanwhile, India’s solar capacity also saw significant expansion, doubling between 2023 and 2024.However, while solar is on the rise, it still constitutes a minor fraction of the global energy mix, responsible for just under 7% of total supply—equivalent to powering the entire nation of India. Wind energy contributes just over 8%, while hydropower remains the largest clean energy source at 14%. Both nuclear and hydroelectric power are growing at a much slower pace compared to wind and solar.The report indicates that, for the first time since the 1940s, clean energy sources collectively contributed more than 40% to global electricity generation. However, this is counterbalanced by a significant increase in fossil fuel consumption, particularly coal (34%) and gas (22%), which saw a 1.4% rise alongside global electricity demand surging by 4% in 2024 due to extreme heat.Fast-growing Asian economies like China and India continue to ramp up fossil fuel use to satisfy their increasingly high electricity demands, despite advancements in renewable energy capacity. This situation raises questions about the future trajectory of emissions and the ability of the world to transition away from fossil fuels.
