Last year, for the first time in history, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power generated more than 30% of the world’s electricity. This marks a significant milestone in the shift towards clean electricity, as outlined in a report on the global power system. Despite a rise in overall electricity demand, the report suggests that the world is making progress in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
Renewable energy has steadily increased its share of global electricity generation, growing from 19% in 2000 to over 30% last year. Solar power, in particular, has exceeded expectations, driving the acceleration in renewable energy adoption. Ember’s findings show that solar energy was a key driver of electricity growth in 2023, adding more new generation capacity than coal. Solar has been the fastest-growing source of electricity for 19 years in a row and surpassed wind power as the largest source of new electricity.
While clean energy is expected to lead to a decrease in global fossil fuel generation by nearly two-thirds over the past decade, it’s important to note that fossil fuels still play a significant role in global energy consumption. A separate study by the Energy Institute found that fossil fuels accounted for 82% of the world’s primary energy sources last year. However, world leaders are committed to increasing renewable energy to 60% of global electricity by 2030 which would require a significant expansion of renewable electricity capacity in the next six years and lead to a substantial reduction in power sector emissions
