FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – A surge in solar power helped clean energy reach 40.9% of global electricity generation in 2024, according to the Global Electricity Review 2025 published Tuesday by UK-based think tank Ember.
This marked the first time low-carbon sources surpassed 40% of global electricity since the 1940s.
Hydropower was the largest low-carbon contributor at 14.3%, followed by nuclear at 9.0%. However, both sources are losing their shares, with nuclear generation dropping to a 45-year low. In contrast, wind and solar power saw rapid growth, with their combined output overtaking hydropower for the first time.
Solar, identified as the driving force behind the global energy transition, set new records in both generation and capacity installations last year. Ember Managing Director Phil MacDonald hailed solar as “an unstoppable force” when paired with battery storage.
Despite progress in renewables, heatwaves fueled higher electricity demand, leading to a slight rise in fossil fuel generation and pushing power sector emissions to an all-time high. The report points to two dominating trends for the remainder of the decade: the exponential growth of solar power and the continued strength in electricity demand.