Last year, over 40 percent of the globe’s electricity came from low-emission sources, as reported by new research conducted by Ember, a clean energy think tank. This figure marks an unprecedented milestone since the 1940s, back when the worldwide power grid was merely one-fiftieth the size it is now and relied heavily on hydroelectricity.
Currently, solar energy is experiencing rapid growth as part of a focused effort to establish a completely clean electrical grid. The global production of solar power now reaches a scale sufficient to supply all of India, according to Ember’s recent report.
Global Electricity Review
finds.
The power sector saw record-breaking emissions last year, totaling 14.6 billion tonnes of CO2. The primary driver behind this increase was the heightened demand for cooling technologies due to widespread heatwaves, making 2024 one of the hottest years on record.
hottest year
in the records — highlighting the critical importance of accelerating the energy shift.
The European Union leads globally with 71 percent of its electricity coming from clean sources in 2024, including contributions from nuclear power.
“Europe has cemented a global leadership in clean power,” Dr Beatrice Petrovich, senior analyst at Ember tells Euronews Green. Furthermore, “it is showing the world how to have an increasing share of
renewables
in the mix”, with nearly half (47 per cent) from solar, wind and hydro last year.
‘Solar energy isn’t just one nation’s tale.’
Solar generation in the EU almost doubled in the three years to 2024 to account for 11 per cent of electricity, surpassing coal for the first time.
Among the top 15 nations globally with the largest proportions of solar power generation, seven member states belong to the European Union. To put it succinctly, according to Petrovich, “The EU stands as a leading force in solar energy.”
There are national achievements to spotlight. In absolute terms,
Germany
Last year, 71 TWh of solar energy was generated, placing it in sixth position worldwide. All other nations pale in comparison to China’s massive output of 834 TWh.
Hungary
The country boasts the highest percentage of solar power in its energy production, accounting for 25 percent. According to Petrovich, this achievement resulted from an extensive subsidy program aimed at encouraging home-based solar installations, which significantly increased overall capacity. Although these incentives have been discontinued, the installed panels will continue generating electricity for many years to come.
Spain
Meanwhile, it receives the accolade for recording Europe’s largest increase in solar power generation over the past year. The 10 terawatt-hours (TWh) rise is still surpassed by China’s impressive 250 TWh growth.
China
accounted for over half of the worldwide increase in production – a remarkable 53 percent – in 2024.
However, in Europe at least, “solar isn’t just one nation’s tale,” Petrovich stresses. She adds, “The broad expansion truly indicates the adaptability and scalability of this technology.” According to her, each country now has its own solar narrative.
Despite less favorable weather conditions than those experienced in 2023, the addition of more panels—especially on roofs—resulted in increased power generation. The expansion of the European Union’s solar capacity continues unabated, even with the significant level of integration achieved so far.
Could California serve as a model for the EU?
It’s now Europe’s opportunity to demonstrate to the globe how to elevate clean energy production, asserts Petrovich. This involves increasing the presence of solar and wind power and enhancing the capability to maximize their utilization efficiently.
This means a portfolio of solutions, including batteries for energy storage, smart electrification of transport, buildings and industry, and an enhanced grid to shift electricity around regions.
“We have the world’s largest grid. Now we need to make it smarter,” Petrovich says, partly by removing barriers.
Rewards encouraging individuals to shift their usage patterns towards periods with abundant renewable energy can be beneficial as well—such as offering discounted rates that motivate electric vehicle owners to recharge their batteries during daylight hours rather than at night.
Petrovich notes that the required technology is already available, and he points out that a model can be found at one location.
California
Last year, in the U.S. state, the blend of solar power and battery storage enabled batteries charged around noon to fulfill one-fifth of the peak electricity demand during the evening hours.
Only three years ago, that percentage stood at just two percent, similar to what some major European markets like Ireland are experiencing now as they enter the large-scale battery technology sector.
“‘Maybe California offers a sneak preview of what we are going to see in Europe in three years’ time,” she suggests.
Clean energy meets global challenges, ranging from AI to Russia.
Many aspects of what the future entails and how the energy landscape will develop by 2025 remain unclear.
New technologies like artificial intelligence,
data centres
The report highlights that electric vehicles and heat pumps are already driving up global demand.
The first two options remain relatively “obscure,” however, Ember predicts that the rapid expansion of clean energy will be sufficient to meet the growing demand for electricity.
Heatwaves
The primary drivers behind the slight uptick in fossil fuel power generation last year are expected to intensify with the worsening climate crisis. However, this does not necessarily lead to an inevitable reliance on fossil fuels.
“Each nation can respond to higher demand using clean power,” Petrovich states. She notes that several factors facilitate this, including energy-efficient devices for cooling purposes.
Europe received a “stark reminder” about
energy security
Following Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, efforts to increase renewable energy sources have intensified.
“Now the circumstances have become more strained regarding Russia, I believe these worries about security have grown substantially compared to before, and renewable energy sources are now viewed as part of this defensive approach,” explains Petrovich.
When it comes to solar power and battery technology, Central-Eastern European nations are the ones to keep an eye on.
Petrovich additionally mentions that she is anticipating getting the chance to see
wind
– which accounted for 18 percent of EU electricity generation – is expected to speed up this year due to quicker permit approvals and, hopefully, improved circumstances.