Breadcrumbs
Global Electricity Review 2024
Renewables generated a record 30% of global electricity in 2023, driven by growth in solar and wind. With record construction of solar and wind in 2023, a new era of falling fossil generation is imminent. 2023 was likely the pivot point, marking peak emissions in the power sector.
Contents
- Highlights Read Read Chapter
- About Read Read Chapter
- Executive summary Read Read Chapter
- 1 Electricity Transition in 2023 Read Read Chapter +
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2 The Big Picture Read Read Chapter
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- 2.1 Past the peak: A new era of falling power emissions Read Section
- 2.2 Solar is leading the energy revolution – and there is more to come Read Section
- 2.3 Demand growth in 2023 was below trend, but in future it will only go up Read Section
- 2.4 The countries showing how to rapidly transition to clean energy Read Section
- 3 Global Electricity Trends Read Read Chapter +
- 4 Global Electricity Source Trends Read Read Chapter +
- 5 Major Countries and Regions Read Read Chapter +
- 6 Conclusion Read Read Chapter
- Supporting Material Read Read Chapter +
Highlights
+23%
Solar generation growth in 2023
+10%
Wind generation growth in 2023
+0.8%
Fossil generation growth in 2023
About
Ember’s fifth annual Global Electricity Review provides the first comprehensive overview of changes in global electricity generation in 2023, based on reported data. It presents the trends underlying them, and the likely implications for energy sources and power sector emissions in the near future. With the report, Ember is also releasing the first comprehensive, free dataset of global electricity generation in 2023.
The report analyses electricity data from 215 countries, including the latest 2023 data for 80 countries representing 92% of global electricity demand. The analysis also includes data for 13 geographic and economic groupings, such as Africa, Asia, the EU and the G7. It also dives deeper into the top six CO2 emitting countries and regions, which account for over 72% of global power sector emissions, and the Annex gives an overview of 25 other countries that are significant polluters.
We make all of the data freely accessible to empower others to do their own analysis and help speed the switch to clean electricity.
Executive summary
Record renewables propel the world towards a new era of falling fossil generation
Renewables generated a record 30% of global electricity in 2023, driven by growth in solar and wind. With record construction of solar and wind in 2023, a new era of falling fossil generation is imminent. 2023 was likely the pivot point, marking peak emissions in the power sector.
Global Insights Programme Director, Ember
The renewables future has arrived. Solar in particular is accelerating faster than anyone thought possible. The decline of power sector emissions is now inevitable. 2023 was likely the pivot point – peak emissions in the power sector – a major turning point in the history of energy. But the pace of emissions falls depends on how fast the renewables revolution continues. The good news is we already know the key enablers that help countries unleash the full potential of solar and wind. There’s an unprecedented opportunity for countries that choose to be at the forefront of the clean energy future. Expanding clean electricity not only helps to decarbonise the power sector. It also provides the step up in supply needed to electrify the whole economy; and that’s the real game-changer for the climate.