LONDON: The share of solar power in global electricity generation rose to 6.9 per cent in 2024, up from 5.6 per cent in 2023, German news agency (dpa) reported, citing a new report by energy think tank Ember.
Solar saw a 29 per cent increase in the last year and added more than twice as much electricity generation in 2024 as any other electricity source.
“Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition. Paired with battery storage, solar is set to be an unstoppable force,” said Phil MacDonald, Ember’s managing director.
China led global solar growth, adding 250 terawatt hours (TWh) — accounting for 53 per cent of the global increase — four times more than the next-largest increase in the United States.
The rise in solar, along with gains in wind, hydro and nuclear, lifted clean electricity’s global share to 40.9 per cent in 2024, up from 39.4 per cent a year earlier.
Wind power grew by 7.9 per cent, supported by capacity additions and slightly offset by reduced wind speeds in some regions.
Hydropower remained the largest clean source at 14.3 per cent, followed by wind (8.1 per cent), solar (6.9 per cent) and nuclear (9 per cent).
Coal remained the dominant power source globally, generating 34.4 per cent of electricity, followed by gas at 22 per cent and other fossil fuels at 2.8 per cent. – BERNAMA-dpa
