The 2024 EMBER Report: Global Electricity Review reported that clean energy sources were unable to meet the rise in demand for power, and a record fall in hydropower created a further shortfall, so fossil generation increased to meet the gap. That drove total power sector emissions to a record high. They write:
Ember’s fifth annual Global Electricity Review provides the first comprehensive overview of changes in global electricity generation in 2023, based on reported data. It presents the trends underlying them, and the likely implications for energy sources and power sector emissions in the near future. With the report, Ember is also releasing the first comprehensive, free dataset of global electricity generation in 2023.
The report analyses electricity data from 215 countries, including the latest 2023 data for 80 countries representing 92% of global electricity demand. The analysis also includes data for 13 geographic and economic groupings, such as Africa, Asia, the EU and the G7. It also dives deeper into the top six CO2 emitting countries and regions, which account for over 72% of global power sector emissions, and the Annex gives an overview of 25 other countries that are significant polluters.
Renewables generated a record 30% of global electricity in 2023, driven by growth in solar and wind. With record construction of solar and wind in 2023, a new era of falling fossil generation is imminent. 2023 was likely the pivot point, marking peak emissions in the power sector.
The renewables revolution – led by solar and wind – is breaking records and driving ever-cleaner electricity production. The world is now at a turning point where solar and wind not only slow emissions growth, but actually start to push fossil generation into decline. […]
Solar is leading the energy revolution. It was the fastest-growing source of electricity generation for the 19th year in a row, and surpassed wind to become the largest source of new electricity for the second year running. Indeed, solar added more than twice as much new electricity as coal in 2023. The record surge in installations at the very end of 2023 means that 2024 is set for an even larger increase in solar generation.
Read more here.
