In 2024, the global electricity consumption landscape has shown a significant reliance on fossil energy sources, with more than half of the electricity generated from fossil fuels, such as coal and gas. Coal alone accounts for about a third of the total electricity, while gas contributes almost a quarter. On the other hand, low-carbon energy sources, which are essential for mitigating climate change impacts, supply just over 40% of global electricity. Within this cleaner category, hydropower leads with roughly 15%, followed by nuclear energy contributing nearly 10%. Wind and solar energies are making notable strides, generating about 8% and 7% respectively, yet there remains considerable room for growth. Other sources such as biofuels represent close to 2% of the electricity mix. The current distribution emphasizes the urgent need for a transition towards greener electricity to reduce environmental pollution and stabilize the climate.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember, IEA, VisualizingEnergy and World Bank. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in The World?

Electricity consumption worldwide demonstrates a positive growth trend, which is a promising indication of increased access and demand. In 2024, electricity consumption reached 3649 kWh per person, surpassing the previous high from 2021 by a modest increase of 95 kWh per person. This marks a steady rise, showing that electricity is indeed expanding globally. Additionally, low-carbon electricity generation has witnessed a more substantial growth, with an increase of 102 kWh per person from the previous record set in 2023. This progress in clean electricity is particularly encouraging, as it signifies a shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly energy systems. To meet future challenges, such as expanding electrification and fostering technological advancements like AI, this growth in clean electricity must accelerate.

Suggestions

To further this transition towards low-carbon electricity, the world can look to successful regions that have effectively embraced solar and nuclear energy. For instance, countries like France and Slovakia generate a dominant share of their electricity, over two-thirds, from nuclear power, demonstrating its viability as a major clean electricity source. Similarly, Iowa and South Dakota have leveraged their wind resources effectively, generating well over half of their electricity from wind energy. Investing in solar infrastructure, as seen in Lebanon's significant solar adoption, can also significantly boost clean electricity shares. By emulating these examples, other regions can prioritize the development and expansion of nuclear and solar energy, which are critical for increasing clean electricity generation capacity to provide sustainable and secure electricity supplies.

History

Historically, low-carbon electricity has seen varied growth across different energy types and time periods. In the 1980s, nuclear energy experienced substantial expansion, notably with increases in generation in 1984 and 1985. However, the global nuclear generation witnessed setbacks, exemplified by declines in 2011 and 2022, which presented challenges. Meanwhile, wind energy has seen impressive gains in the last decade, with remarkable annual increases from 2017 through to 2024. Solar energy is currently on an upward trajectory, showing exceptional growth in recent years. Hydropower has remained stable over the years, providing a consistent portion of low-carbon electricity. Overall, maintaining and accelerating the growth of clean electricity is crucial to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and achieving a cleaner energy future.