Record growth in renewable energy—led by solar—helped clean power reach 40.9 percent of global electricity generation in 2024, according to a new report by UK-based energy think tank Ember.

The Global Electricity Review 2025, published Tuesday on Ember’s official website, states that 2024 marked the first year since the 1940s in which low-carbon energy sources contributed more than 40 percent of global electricity. Notably, the electricity system today is 50 times larger than it was in the 1940s.

Hydropower remained the largest low-carbon energy source, accounting for 14.3 percent of global electricity generation in 2024, followed by nuclear at 9.0 percent. However, the report notes that neither hydro nor nuclear is expanding its share, with nuclear dropping to a 45-year low.

In contrast, the share of electricity generated by wind (8.1 percent) and solar (6.9 percent) continues to grow rapidly. Combined, wind and solar power surpassed hydropower output for the first time last year.

Solar power has emerged as the driving force of the global energy transition, with both solar generation and new capacity installations reaching record highs in 2024, according to the report.

"Paired with battery storage, solar is set to become an unstoppable force," said Ember Managing Director Phil MacDonald.

However, the report also highlights challenges. Intense heatwaves contributed to surging electricity demand, which led to a slight rise in fossil fuel generation. As a result, power sector emissions reached a record high.

The report identifies two key trends shaping the global power system for the remainder of the decade: the exponential growth of solar energy and consistently strong electricity demand.