Global Clean Power Passes 40% Milestone While Trump Dumps Renewables
April 8, 2025
Global clean energy has reached a historic milestone, with renewables and nuclear generating 40.9% of the world’s electricity generation in 2024, even as the Trump administration attempts to prevent the United States from moving beyond planet-warming fossil fuels.
According to a new report from energy think tank Ember, renewable energy generation grew by 858 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024—a 49% growth over the previous record of 577 TWh set in 2022. A large portion of this came from the growth of solar, which Ember notes was “the fastest growing source of electricity for the 20th year in a row,” with 29% more solar generation year-on-year.
Yet right now, the report shows, solar makes up only 6.9% of low-carbon electricity. Hydroelectric power is the largest source at 14.3%, with nuclear making up 9%, and wind, which is also growing rapidly, at 8.1%. Nuclear fell to its lowest share of clean energy generation in 45 years.
“Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition,” said Phil MacDonald, Ember’s managing director, noting that solar generation has doubled in just three years to exceed 2,000 TWh in 2024. “While some nations may step back from climate commitments, the economic advantages of renewables are driving unstoppable global momentum.”
Global Markets Forge Ahead
As the U.S. federal government pivots away from renewables, large international markets—particularly China and India—are doubling down on clean energy deployment. China alone accounted for more than half of last year’s solar generation increase, with clean power meeting 81% of its growing electricity demand. India’s solar capacity additions doubled compared to 2023, highlighting how emerging economies are reshaping the global energy landscape.
“The future of the global power system is being shaped in Asia,” said Professor Xunpeng Shi, president of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies. “Their increasing reliance on renewables to power demand growth marks a shift that will redefine the global power sector and accelerate the decline of fossil fuels.”
The Genie And The Bottle
Despite Trump 2.0’s pro-fossil fuel stance, market fundamentals continue to favor renewables. The combination of falling costs for solar power and battery storage, alongside rising demand from the tech sector—in particular with the boom in AI, data centers, and electric vehicles—is helping support clean energy’s growth trajectory.
Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, stressed that: “Despite geopolitical and economic headwinds, the renewables industry delivered an additional 858 TWh of generation to the system last year—more than the combined annual electricity consumption of the UK and France.”
Looking Ahead
While U.S. federal policy may create temporary hurdles for domestic renewable deployment, global clean power growth is projected to outpace rising electricity demand in the coming years. This trend suggests the beginning of a permanent decline in fossil fuel generation, regardless of political resistance in certain markets.
Ember’s latest report reinforces the reality that cleantech, not fossil fuels, remains the primary driver of economic development globally. As other nations maintain their commitment to decarbonizing their energy systems, the U.S. risks falling behind in the race to lead the clean energy economy of the future.
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