NEW DELHI: The constant rise in wind and solar power generation in India enabled the country to surpass Germany as the world’s third-largest generator of electricity from these sources in 2024, shows a report by global energy think-tank Ember.
Though India’s generation capacity from wind and solar — 215 terawatt-hour (TWh) — in 2024 remained much lower than China, the largest generator of electricity from these sources (1,826 TWh), and the US, the second largest generator (757 TWh), it almost doubled over five years, reflecting no signs of slowing down of clean energy growth in the country despite it being a late entrant in these segments of renewables.
The report released on Tuesday underlined that the increasing use of electricity for AI, data centres, electric vehicles and heat pumps is already contributing to global demand growth. “Combined, growing use of these technologies accounted for a 0.7% increase in global electricity demand in 2024, double what they contributed five years ago,” it said.
The analysis found that the world reached a new milestone last year as all low-carbon sources — renewables and nuclear — provided nearly 41% of the world’s electricity generation in 2024, passing the 40% mark for the first time since the 1940s.
In comparison, India generated 22% of its electricity from clean sources last year, with hydropower as the single largest contributor at 8% of the mix, while wind and solar made up 10%. “While India’s clean generation continues to grow, it remains below the global average, highlighting significant potential for further expansion,” the report said.
Gobally, renewables were the main driver of overall growth, adding a record 858 TWh in 2024, 49% more than the previous high in 2022. Solar was the largest contributor for the third year running, adding 474 TWh last year. The report showed that solar was the fastest-growing power source (29%) for the 20th year in a row. Global solar generation, in fact, doubled in three years.
“Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition. Paired with battery storage, solar is set to be an unstoppable force. As the fastest-growing and largest source of new electricity, it is critical in meeting the world’s ever-increasing demand for electricity,” Ember’s managing director Phil MacDonald said.
The analysis also found that, despite the rise in renewables, fossil generation saw 1.4% increase in 2024 due to surging electricity demand, pushing global power sector emissions up 1.6% to an all-time high.
It noted that heat waves were the main driver of the rise in fossil generation, mainly through additional use of cooling. “Without these temperature effects, fossil generation would have risen by only 0.2%, as clean electricity generation met 96% of the demand growth not caused by hotter temperatures,” the report said.
During severe heat waves across the plains (April-June) last year, India’s electricity demand rose 10.4% compared to the same period in 2023. Increased air conditioning as a result of hotter temperatures accounted for nearly a third of the increase.
Overall, India’s electricity demand grew by 5% in 2024. Clean generation met 33% of the increase in electricity demand, with coal meeting the majority (64%). However, this was significantly lower than in 2023, when coal met 91% of the increase.
Though India’s generation capacity from wind and solar — 215 terawatt-hour (TWh) — in 2024 remained much lower than China, the largest generator of electricity from these sources (1,826 TWh), and the US, the second largest generator (757 TWh), it almost doubled over five years, reflecting no signs of slowing down of clean energy growth in the country despite it being a late entrant in these segments of renewables.
The report released on Tuesday underlined that the increasing use of electricity for AI, data centres, electric vehicles and heat pumps is already contributing to global demand growth. “Combined, growing use of these technologies accounted for a 0.7% increase in global electricity demand in 2024, double what they contributed five years ago,” it said.
The analysis found that the world reached a new milestone last year as all low-carbon sources — renewables and nuclear — provided nearly 41% of the world’s electricity generation in 2024, passing the 40% mark for the first time since the 1940s.
In comparison, India generated 22% of its electricity from clean sources last year, with hydropower as the single largest contributor at 8% of the mix, while wind and solar made up 10%. “While India’s clean generation continues to grow, it remains below the global average, highlighting significant potential for further expansion,” the report said.
Gobally, renewables were the main driver of overall growth, adding a record 858 TWh in 2024, 49% more than the previous high in 2022. Solar was the largest contributor for the third year running, adding 474 TWh last year. The report showed that solar was the fastest-growing power source (29%) for the 20th year in a row. Global solar generation, in fact, doubled in three years.
“Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition. Paired with battery storage, solar is set to be an unstoppable force. As the fastest-growing and largest source of new electricity, it is critical in meeting the world’s ever-increasing demand for electricity,” Ember’s managing director Phil MacDonald said.
The analysis also found that, despite the rise in renewables, fossil generation saw 1.4% increase in 2024 due to surging electricity demand, pushing global power sector emissions up 1.6% to an all-time high.
It noted that heat waves were the main driver of the rise in fossil generation, mainly through additional use of cooling. “Without these temperature effects, fossil generation would have risen by only 0.2%, as clean electricity generation met 96% of the demand growth not caused by hotter temperatures,” the report said.
During severe heat waves across the plains (April-June) last year, India’s electricity demand rose 10.4% compared to the same period in 2023. Increased air conditioning as a result of hotter temperatures accounted for nearly a third of the increase.
Overall, India’s electricity demand grew by 5% in 2024. Clean generation met 33% of the increase in electricity demand, with coal meeting the majority (64%). However, this was significantly lower than in 2023, when coal met 91% of the increase.
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