Renewable energy sources provided a record 32% of global electricity in 2024, according to a report from energy think tank Ember.
This marks a significant increase over the 30% share achieved in 2023, driven by the growing contributions from wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.
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The report indicates that the global shift towards sustainable energy continues to gain momentum.
Electricity demand worldwide grew by 4% last year, fuelled by extreme heatwaves and the expanding energy requirements of data centres.
Additionally, the surge in demand from technologies such as AI, electric vehicles, and heat pumps contributed 0.7% to the total growth in consumption, according to the report.
These factors highlight the changing landscape of energy use in response to technological advancements and climate-related challenges.
Euan Graham, an electricity and data analyst at Ember, suggested that concerns over energy security could further increase demand for renewable energy.
Ember electricity and data analyst Euan Graham told Reuters that concerns over energy security, worsened by a trade dispute triggered by US President Donald Trump’s extensive tariffs, could drive increased demand for renewable energy this year.
Although it is too soon to determine the precise impact of the US trade war on overall electricity consumption, Graham noted that renewable energy could potentially see a boost in the coming years.
These developments are taking place against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and concerns about a potential recession.
The expansion of renewable energy generation in 2024 surpassed fossil fuels, with gas power plants contributing 22% to global electricity production, unchanged from 2023.
Coal remains the largest single source, having supplied 34% of global electricity, a slight decrease from 36% the previous year.
Nuclear power accounted for 9%, a small reduction from 9.1% in 2023. Heatwaves in 2024 led to a notable increase in electricity demand for cooling, which accounted for an additional 0.7%, or 208TWh, of the global total.
