Major Countries and Regions

The report examines the 2024 power sectors of China, the US, EU, India, Russia, Japan, and Brazil. Key trends include China's massive solar growth despite record coal generation, the US's first-time transition to wind and solar overtaking coal, the EU's record decline in coal, and Brazil's high renewable share. While India and China continue to see demand growth met partly by coal, the EU and US show a stronger shift toward clean energy, though the US remains reliant on gas.

• In 2024, China's electricity demand grew by 6.6% (+623 TWh), with clean generation meeting 81% of this increase. Solar generation grew by 250 TWh (+43%), more than twice the increase seen in coal generation (+110 TWh). Despite this, China remains the world's largest power sector emitter, accounting for 39% of global power sector emissions in 2024.
• For the first time in 2024, wind and solar combined generated more electricity in the United States than coal, with coal's share falling to an all-time low of under 15%. However, the US accounted for 57% of global growth in gas generation in 2024, with gas supplying 43% of its electricity.
• The European Union recorded the largest global decline in coal generation in 2024, falling by 50 TWh (-16%). Clean sources provided 71% of the EU's electricity in 2024, with solar becoming the fastest-growing power source (up 21% or +53 TWh) and surpassing coal for the first time.
• India's wind and solar generation nearly doubled between 2019 and 2024, from 110 TWh to 215 TWh, making it the world's third-largest generator of these sources. While coal generation growth met 64% of India's demand growth in 2024, this is a significant decrease from 91% in 2023.
• Russia set record highs for both coal and gas generation in 2024, with wind and solar accounting for less than 1% of its electricity mix. Fossil fuels made up 64% of its electricity mix, and its power sector emissions increased by 3.8% over 2023.
• Japan's power sector emissions fell by 1.4% in 2024, reaching the lowest value in 22 years. Solar generation rose to 10% of the mix, but wind remained at 1%, which is significantly lower than the G7 average of 12%.
• Brazil generated 90% of its electricity from clean sources in 2024, the highest share of any G20 country. Its wind and solar share reached 24%, and it became the fifth-largest solar generator globally, surpassing Germany.

APA

Ember (2025). Major Countries and Regions. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/major-countries-and-regions-2/

Chicago

Ember. Major Countries and Regions. 2025. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/major-countries-and-regions-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Major Countries and Regions |date=8 April 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/major-countries-and-regions-2/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2025major, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Major Countries and Regions}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/major-countries-and-regions-2/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }