Our work on clean power

Emissions-free electricity is the single biggest way to slow climate change.

Shifting the world to clean electricity with data and policy

Ember’s core work is focused on shifting the world to clean electricity.

We curate the world’s best open dataset on global electricity generation, and publish an annual Global Electricity Review.

We have specialist teams working in Asia and Europe to galvanise action in the world’s biggest emitters, by using data and analysis to highlight the solutions and policy enablers.

In Europe we published a modelled pathway to a clean power system by 2035, and in Asia we have helped show the progress in renewables deployment in India, South East Asia and beyond.

Our vision of a clean power system

Led by wind and solar

Wind and solar will be the backbone of the future electricity system. The IPCC shows that wind and solar can deliver a third of the emissions cuts required by 2030, while actually bringing down energy costs.

Enabled by many technologies

A system dominated by wind and solar will be enabled by a range of essential technologies including storage, interconnection, demand-side flexibility, firm clean sources like hydro, advanced geothermal and nuclear, and hydrogen electrolysers.

Many times bigger than today

Global electricity demand will be many times larger than today as more sectors benefit from running on electricity instead of fuels. Every single person in the world’s growing population will have access to affordable clean energy.

Powering the whole economy

Electrifying everything possible, from transport to industry, will unlock major efficiency gains and emissions reductions.

Tripling renewables is the single biggest action required this decade for the climate. Furthermore, clean electricity will reduce energy costs and pollution, and boost efficiency and energy security.

Dave Jones Global Insights Lead, Ember

The ambition required for 1.5C

Tripling renewable capacity worldwide is the single biggest action required this decade for the climate.

Solar and wind are expected to be the major drivers of growth in renewables this decade. In the Net Zero Scenario presented by IEA, global solar and wind share reaches 40% by 2030.

x3

Global renewables capacity triples from 2022 to 2030

40%

Target share of solar and wind globally by 2030

Why wind and solar are critical to the energy transition

01

Record-breaking renewables growth

Wind and solar are cheap and scalable. As costs fall and sales take off, the growth trajectories make it possible to achieve a pathway aligned with 1.5C. 

02

Benefits beyond the climate

Not only are solar and wind low-emissions, they are also low-cost and homegrown, giving a boost to the economy and energy security. 

Explore more

Read more about the latest trends in key electricity sources and Ember’s position on their role in the future electricity system

Bioenergy | Hydro | Nuclear | Wind | Solar | Gas | Coal