Electricity in The World in 2024

As of 2024, the global landscape of electricity consumption reveals a nearly equal split between fossil fuels and low-carbon sources. Fossil fuels, majorly dominated by coal and gas, account for just under 60% of the total electricity consumption, with coal alone responsible for over a third. Low-carbon sources contribute a significant portion, with close to 41% of electricity derived from these cleaner options. Within this category, hydropower leads by providing about 14% of global consumption, while nuclear energy follows closely with nearly 9%. Wind and solar also make notable contributions, comprising 8% and 7% respectively. Although biofuels are categorized as low-carbon, their share is a modest 2.3%, emphasizing the potential and necessity for a more pronounced shift towards sustainable and cleaner electricity sources.

Suggestions

To move towards more sustainable electricity generation globally, a crucial strategy would be to emulate successful countries that have embraced nuclear and wind energy prominently. For instance, France has exemplified leadership with nuclear energy constituting an overwhelming 68% of its electricity. Similarly, nations like Denmark with 52% from wind, and Slovakia where nuclear accounts for more than 60%, have demonstrated pathways for achieving substantial low-carbon electricity generation. These examples illustrate that commitment to nuclear can lead to significant low-carbon contributions, while investment in wind has enabled countries like Ireland to derive almost a third of their electricity from this source. Increasing investment in these technologies, alongside strategic policy frameworks and international cooperation, can catalyze similar transformations in other regions.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation has shown varied and noteworthy patterns. The nuclear boom of the mid-1980s, marked by substantial increases of over 200 TWh per year, laid a foundation for continuous low-carbon electricity evolution. Although the Fukushima disaster in 2011 significantly reduced nuclear output by approximately 174 TWh, the resurgence and growth in other clean energy sources, notably wind and solar, illustrate resilient progress. Particularly, the 2020s have been transformative, with solar energy experiencing leaps, adding nearly 500 TWh of capacity in 2024 alone, while wind continues its steady expansion with close to 169 TWh. The evolutionary trajectory highlights the world’s capacity to innovate and adjust, reinforcing the imperative of investing in nuclear, wind, and solar energies to build a sustainable electricity future.

Electrification

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

Data Sources