Solar power is driving the global electricity transition.
According to energy think tank Ember, for the first time since the 1940s, more than 40% of the world’s electricity comes from low-carbon sources. The EU’s share is even cleaner, with more than 71% of electricity coming from low-carbon sources. The findings are part of the organisation’s Global Electricity Review for 2024.
In total, renewables generated 858 TWh of new electricity — enough to meet nearly a quarter of annual U.S. consumption. New solar generation accounted for more than half of this production — 474 TWh. According to the analysts, the growth of renewables will outpace the rising demand for electricity in the coming years.
"Solar is the engine of this global transition. It has been the largest source of electricity over the past three years, and it will have added more than twice as much compared to any other source of electricity in 2024," said Nicolas Fulghum, lead author of the study.
The Netherlands: Leader in Green Electricity
The Netherlands is one of the leaders in this transition. An analysis by Ember shows that 54% of the electricity generated in the country in 2024 will come from low-carbon sources. Wind is the primary source of green electricity (27%). Together, wind and solar will contribute 45% of total production — three times the global average.
In addition, the Netherlands maintains its position as a global leader in solar energy, ranking 6th worldwide in terms of the share of solar-generated electricity. "Examples such as the Netherlands reinforce the importance of solar energy. Despite being located at such a high latitude, solar energy accounts for 18% of the electricity mix," Fulghum emphasizes.
EU leads the way
The EU is leading the way in the energy transition. The use of fossil fuels has fallen sharply, halving since 2007. Wind and nuclear are currently the most important sources of generation. In addition, the Member States top the charts in terms of the share of solar and wind energy in electricity generation. Hungary has the highest share of solar generation (25%), while Denmark leads the list in terms of the share of wind energy (58%). Ireland, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Spain are among the top fifteen countries with the largest share of wind energy.
How can the EU support the expansion of renewable energy sources? By investing in battery storage and grid flexibility. “The bloc benefits from an interconnected system as the European Commission takes action to align transmission buildouts across countries,” the Ember analyst said.
