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High temperatures are seen as the main driver of rising power sector emissions. (Photo: iStock)
According to the latest Global Electricity Review from UK-based energy think tank Ember, low-carbon electricity sources accounted for more than 40% of global power generation for the first time in 2024. Solar power in particular set new records for both generation and installed capacity.
However, rising electricity demand driven by technologies like artificial intelligence has outpaced clean power growth. Meanwhile, heatwaves have pushed up energy use for cooling, causing fossil fuel emissions to climb to historic levels.
Solar leads clean energy growth and drives the transition
Ember reported that low-carbon sources, including nuclear power, made up 40.9% of global electricity generation in 2024. Hydropower was the largest contributor (14.3%), followed by nuclear (9%), wind (8.1%), and solar (6.9%). Combined, solar and wind generation surpassed hydropower output for the first time.
