Energy transition study: more and more electricity from solar systems worldwide

According to an analysis of the Ember think tank, electricity extraction from sunlight continues to increase worldwide. The solar share of global electricity generation therefore rose from 5.6 percent in 2023 to 6.9 percent last year, as the research institute in London announced.

“The 20th year in a row was the fastest growing energy source,” it said. The sun has doubled the electricity generation in just three years – in 2024 it was more than 2,100 terawatt hours worldwide. The growth of 2024 in China was particularly great, which with 250 terawatt hours of more than half of the global growth of solar growth.

“Solar energy has become the engine of the global energy transition,” said Ember Managing Director Phil Macdonald. “Coupled with battery storage, solar becomes an unstoppable force. As the fastest growing and largest source of new electricity, it is crucial to cover the steadily increasing electricity requirement.”

In 2024, hydropower generated 14.3 percent of the electricity worldwide

According to the analysis, wind power also increased. The proportion of global electricity generation rose to 8.1 percent, it said. With a proportion of 14.3 percent, hydropower is still the largest individual renewable source. Other renewable energy sources would have contributed 2.6 percent.

The largest proportion of electricity generation continued to have the Energie Coal – 2024 with 34.4 percent. Natural gas came to 22 percent. There were 2.8 percent on other fossil fuels. Nuclear power contributed 9 percent.

Ember presented his annual analysis “Global Electricity Review” (in German for example: global electricity overview) for the sixth time. Among other things, data from 88 countries were evaluated, according to Ember, which according to Ember covering around 93 percent of the global electricity requirement.