---
title: "Renewables provided record 32% of global electricity in 2024, Ember says"
description: "LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Renewable power generation provided a record 32% of global electricity last year, a report by energy think tank Ember said on Tuesday, as overall electricity demand grew 4% driven by heatwaves and data centres."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-08-renewables-provided-record-32-of-global-electricity-in-2024-ember-says/"
published: "2025-04-08T04:07:59"
updated: "2025-04-08T04:08:01"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 219
---

# Renewables provided record 32% of global electricity in 2024, Ember says

> LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Renewable power generation provided a record 32% of global electricity last year, a report by energy think tank Ember said on Tuesday, as overall electricity demand grew 4% driven by heatwaves and data centres.

By Reuters · Published 8 April 2025, 06:07 SAST · Updated 8 April 2025, 06:08 SAST

## Key points
- As global electricity demand surged by 4% last year, fueled by heatwaves and the electrifying rise of data centers and EVs, the fossil fuel party took a hit, leaving renewables to bask in the glow of increased energy security concerns.
- Global electricity demand surged by 4% in the past year, driven by heatwaves, data centres, and electric vehicles.
- The share of electricity generated from gas and coal has declined, indicating a shift in energy sources.
- Concerns over energy security, intensified by U.S. tariffs, may accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
- Renewable generation exceeded 30% of the global electricity mix in 2024, adding 858 TWh to the system.

## Content

- Global electricity demand grew by 4% last year, Ember says
- Heatwaves, data centres, EVs drove demand
- Share provided by gas, coal dips

By Susanna Twidale

Energy security fears, exacerbated by a trade war prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump's [sweeping tariffs](https://www.reuters.com/business/tariffs/), could further boost demand for renewable power this year, Ember electricity and data analyst Euan Graham told Reuters.

The [tariffs](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL2N3QL03H&linkedFromStory=true) have sent markets from energy and equities plummeting and stoked concerns about a global recession.

Graham said though it was too early to tell whether the tariff fallout would impact electricity demand this year, renewable power could benefit.

"Countries are thinking about their security and energy security more than ever before and I think that means homegrown renewable power like wind and solar becomes more and more attractive," he said.

The growth of renewable power generation - including wind, hydro and solar - in the global electricity mix in 2024 beat the previous year's 30% record, Ember’s Global Electricity Review showed.

"Despite geopolitical and economic headwinds, the renewables industry delivered an additional 858 TWh of generation to the system last year — more than the combined annual electricity consumption of the UK and France," Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance said in a statement accompanying the report.

(Reporting by Susanna Twidale; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)