40% of world’s electricity from non-fossil sources but power sector’s carbon emissions at all-time high

Global electricity generation from clean sources crossed a major threshold in 2024, with renewables and nuclear power contributing more than 40 per cent for the first time, according to new data. Global electricity generation from clean sources crossed a major milestone in 2024, with non-fossil sources—comprising renewables and nuclear—accounting for more than 40 per cent of the world’s total power supply, according to a new report by energy think tank Ember. According to the report, nuclear, solar, wind and other renewable energy sources collectively generated 40.9 per cent of global electricity last year, adding a record 858 terawatt-hours to the energy mix. Solar energy was the largest contributor to new electricity generation for the third consecutive year, adding 474 TWh and also remained the fastest-growing power source globally for the 20th year in a row, with a 29 per cent annual increase, it said.