The annual global electricity review conducted by the energy think tank Ember suggests that the peak in electricity generation and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants likely occurred in 2023, marking a significant milestone for human civilization. According to Ember, countries are unlikely to generate as much electricity from fossil fuels in the future.
Renewable energy sources played a crucial role in 2023, contributing a record 30 percent to the global electricity supply.
This was primarily driven by the growth in solar and wind power. Ember projects a 2 percent decrease in fossil fuel-powered electricity in 2024, with a further decline expected in the long term.
Dave Jones, Ember's insights director, described 2023 as a major turning point in the history of energy. He believes that the decline in power sector emissions is now inevitable, although the pace of this transition depends on the continued growth of the renewables revolution.
Despite global progress, the United States remains a significant contributor to gas-powered electricity generation, which poses a challenge to the transition to cleaner energy. The US's heavy reliance on gas power, particularly in replacing aging coal plants, is hindering efforts to achieve a truly clean power system. President Joe Biden has set a goal of achieving 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035.
However, the Supreme Court's 2022 decision limits the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to mandate this transition.
Renewables have become increasingly affordable, with solar now considered the cheapest source of electricity in history and the fastest-growing power source for 19 consecutive years. Ember's report aligns with predictions from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which anticipates a peak in global demand for coal, gas, and oil this decade, with renewables accounting for nearly 50 percent of the world's electricity mix by 2030.
Ember is optimistic about the future, especially after over 130 countries pledged to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 during a United Nations climate summit. With this progress, renewable electricity could reach 60 percent globally by the end of the decade.