Global energy think tank EMBER released its Global Electricity Review in April this year. The review highlighted some interesting trends in the generation of electricity from low-carbon sources. You can read the full report on the EMBER website: https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025/ but here are a few key take-aways from our perspective.

Renewables Supplied a Record 32% of Global Electricity in 2024

Renewable energy sources—primarily wind, hydro, and solar—provided 32% of global electricity in 2024, up from 30% in 2023. This growth occurred alongside a 4% rise in global electricity demand, driven by increased cooling needs during heatwaves and expanding usage by data centers, AI systems, electric vehicles, and heat pumps.

Clean Energy Growth Outpaces Electricity Demand

In 2024, clean energy met over 40% of global electricity demand for the first time since the 1940s, according to Ember. This significant milestone was driven primarily by a rapid expansion in solar power, which has doubled in capacity over the past three years and has been the fastest-growing energy source globally for two decades. Despite its rapid growth, solar power accounted for nearly 7% of global electricity in 2024, and wind contributed just over 8%. Hydroelectric power remains the largest source among renewables, supplying 14% of global electricity. The report also highlights that clean energy sources, including nuclear and bioenergy, are growing at a rate that surpasses the overall growth in electricity demand, potentially displacing fossil fuels in the energy mix.

Asia Leads in Clean Energy Transition Momentum

In early 2025, Asia has significantly outpaced Europe and the U.S. in transitioning to clean energy. Countries like China, India, South Korea, and Japan have reduced fossil fuel usage and increased clean power output, unlike their Western counterparts. For instance, South Korea cut fossil fuel electricity generation by 15%, and India saw a 26% rise in clean electricity production compared to January 2024. Conversely, Europe and the U.S. have increased fossil fuel-fired power due to weak wind power output and high electricity demand.

The report underlines the rapid increase in growth across solar and wind —especially in fast-growing markets like China, India, and parts of Southeast Asia—this is realised in the increase in competition for Installation and maintenance technicians, Grid engineers and electricians and Manufacturing workers (for solar panels, batteries, wind turbine components).