Renewables provide record 30% of global electricity in 2023

Renewables generated a record 30 percent of global electricity in 2023, driven by growth in solar and wind especially from China, according to the Global Electricity Review 2024 released by the global energy think tank Ember on Wednesday.

The report suggests that 2023 marks a significant turning point in the power sector, as it is likely the year when peak emissions were reached, signaling the beginning of a decline in fossil fuel generation on a global scale.

According to the report, solar power emerged as the leading supplier of electricity growth, adding more than twice as much new electricity generation as coal in 2023. The projected growth of clean electricity gives confidence that a new era of declining power emissions is on the horizon, with an anticipated 2 percent decrease in global fossil fuel generation in 2024.

"The renewable future has arrived," said Dave Jones, director of Ember's Global Insights Programme, with solar energy in particular accelerating at a faster pace than previously anticipated.

"The decline of power sector emissions is now inevitable. 2023 was likely the pivot point – a major turning point in the history of energy. But the pace of emissions falls depends on how fast the renewables revolution continues."

He highlighted the unprecedented opportunity for countries that choose to lead in the development and utilization of clean energy and said expanding clean electricity not only aids in decarbonizing the power sector but also provides the necessary supply for global economic growth.

Katye Altieri, a global electricity transition analyst from Ember, said that China will be the major contributor to clean energy in 2023, accounting for 51 percent of the additional global solar generation and 60 percent of the new global wind generation.

Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, said that the review affirms the arrival of the renewable energy era, resulting in a decline in fossil fuel generation and power sector emissions. He emphasized that the current 30 percent share of renewables could significantly expand by 2030 if countries fulfill their commitments to sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Collier further highlighted the importance of long-term planning for developing clean energy, which can provide millions of people with secure, clean, and affordable energy access while creating green job opportunities and reducing the adverse impacts of climate change on nature and communities.

Ember's Global Electricity Review 2024 provides the first comprehensive overview of the global power system in 2023 based on country-level data. The analysis encompasses electricity data from 215 countries and regions, including the latest 2023 data for 80 countries representing 92 percent of global electricity demand.

COP28 late last year agreed to triple global renewables capacity by 2030, which would see renewables reach a 60 percent share of the world’s electricity and deliver a rapid fall in emissions.