Ember’s Review illuminated the remarkable growth trajectory of renewable energy sources, with their contribution to global electricity rising from 29.4% in 2022 to 30.3% in 2023.
In a landmark achievement for renewable energy, the year 2023 witnessed a significant surge in solar and wind power generation, propelling renewable sources to account for a record 30% of global electricity production.
This milestone, revealed in a report by the think tank Ember, underscores the remarkable strides made towards the global target of tripling renewable capacity by 2030, as agreed upon by more than 100 countries during the COP28 climate summit held in Dubai the previous year.
Ember’s Global Electricity Review illuminated the remarkable growth trajectory of renewable energy sources, with their contribution to global electricity rising from 29.4% in 2022 to 30.3% in 2023. This surge was primarily fueled by the expansion of solar projects, which experienced a notable increase in capacity.
Dave Jones, Director of Global Insights at Ember, emphasized the pivotal role of solar capacity expansion in paving the way towards achieving the ambitious renewable energy targets set for 2030. “The rise in solar capacity that happened during 2023 really unlocks the possibility that we are able to reach that level of renewables by 2030, and the tripling of capacity that was promised at COP28,” Jones affirmed in an interview.
China emerged as a global leader in renewable energy deployment, accounting for over half of the worldwide additions in solar and wind capacity in 2023. The report highlighted a remarkable 23.2% increase in global solar generation and a substantial 9.8% growth in wind power.
Despite these encouraging developments, industry experts have identified challenges surrounding grid connections and permit approvals for new renewable energy projects as hurdles that need to be addressed to ensure the attainment of the 2030 targets.
Looking ahead, the report projects a continued trajectory of renewable growth, forecasting a 2% decline in fossil fuel power production in 2024. This trend is anticipated to drive overall fossil fuel power production to less than 60% of global electricity production for the first time since at least 2000, based on Ember’s data.
“The permanent decline in fossil fuel use in the power sector at a global level is now inevitable, leading to falling sector emissions,” the report concluded, underscoring the pivotal role of renewable energy in combating climate change and meeting international sustainability goals.
As the world collectively strives to mitigate the impacts of climate change, the surge in renewable energy production represents a beacon of hope, demonstrating the feasibility of transitioning towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. With concerted efforts and continued investments in renewable infrastructure, the vision of a world powered predominantly by clean energy sources by 2030 appears increasingly within reach.