In 2024, the world is experiencing an impressive shift in electricity generation with low-carbon sources accounting for almost 41% of global electricity consumption. Despite this progress, fossil fuels still represent about 59% of electricity generation, with coal being the dominant fossil source at over a third of the total. Gas follows with approximately 22%. On the low-carbon front, hydropower is leading, contributing 14% of electricity. Nuclear power, through its reliable and steady output, makes up nearly 9% of electricity globally. Solar and wind energy are also making significant strides with around 7% and 8% of the global share, respectively. The potential for growth in these sectors is substantial, especially in solar and nuclear, which are essential to curtail the environmental impacts of fossil fuels like coal and gas that significantly contribute to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in The World?

The data indicates a positive trend in electricity consumption, signaling that global demand is climbing. In 2024, the average electricity consumption per person reached 3781 kWh, surpassing the previous year's record by 83 kWh per person. This growth comes on the back of increasing adoption of low-carbon electricity, which also saw a remarkable rise, adding 96 kWh per person compared to 2023. The figures reflect not only the growth in overall electricity usage but also a commendable stride towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. This increasing electricity demand, driven partly by the electrification of various sectors and innovations such as AI, suggests the urgent necessity to escalate low-carbon electricity generation to ensure global energy needs are met sustainably.

Suggestions

Regions like France and states like Iowa and South Dakota exemplify how strategic investments in nuclear and wind energy can dramatically boost low-carbon electricity generation. France, with over two-thirds of its electricity coming from nuclear, demonstrates the potential of nuclear power to provide a substantial and consistent supply of clean energy. Meanwhile, Iowa and Denmark, where wind energy accounts for over half of their electricity, prove that wind power can be a significant player on the energy stage. To accelerate the transition to cleaner electricity worldwide, countries should be inspired by these examples and invest heavily in expanding both solar and nuclear capacities, which hold the promise of supplying reliable, sustainable, and abundant energy for the future.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation reveals a trajectory of significant growth marked by fluctuations in different sectors. In the early 1980s, nuclear power experienced robust advancements, with 1985 seeing an increase of nearly 291 TWh. Moving into the 21st century, hydroelectric contributions continued to grow steadily, peaking with a 196 TWh increase in 2010. Recent years have witnessed unprecedented advances in wind and solar energy, especially in 2022, when solar surged by over 270 TWh and wind by approximately 248 TWh. By 2024, solar leapt forward again with an impressive 491 TWh, the most substantial single-year increase observed for any low-carbon source in recent history. Collectively, these developments underscore the potential and necessity of expanding clean electricity to drive a sustainable energy future.

Electrification

We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.

Data Sources