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This report provides a detailed analysis of the power sectors of the world's seven largest electricity markets in 2025: China, the United States, the European Union, India, Russia, Japan, and Brazil. These regions collectively represent 72% of global electricity demand. The document examines trends in generation mix, demand growth, carbon intensity, and emissions, highlighting a global shift toward wind and solar, though the pace and drivers vary significantly by region.

This report by Ember provides a 2024 analysis of the world's seven largest electricity consumers, who collectively account for 72% of global demand. It details the transition progress of China, the US, the EU, India, Russia, Japan, and Brazil, highlighting trends in clean energy adoption, coal decline, and carbon intensity.

In 2024, wind and solar combined to produce 17% of US electricity, surpassing coal for the first time nationwide. This shift is driven by market dynamics, cost-effective renewables, and state-level policies, with 24 states now generating more electricity from wind and solar than from coal.

In 2023, the share of renewables in the global electricity mix exceeded 30% for the first time, driven by record growth in wind and solar. However, a record fall in hydropower generation and rising electricity demand led to a marginal increase in fossil fuel generation, resulting in global power sector emissions reaching a new record high of 14,153 million tonnes of CO2.

This policy brief by RMI outlines how U.S. states can utilize Low-Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) to incentivize the adoption of clean hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, maritime shipping, and long-haul trucking. It analyzes existing programs in California, Oregon, and Washington to provide four key lessons for future state policies to ensure clean hydrogen is directed toward high-priority uses rather than sectors where electrification is more efficient.

A briefing by Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reports that China is at risk of missing multiple 2025 climate commitments due to an acceleration in coal power permitting and construction. Despite official pledges to strictly control new coal power, an estimated 114 GW of capacity was approved and 70 GW started construction in 2023. The report argues that this expansion is driven by rigid grid management and a perceived 'policy window' before 2025, leading to significant risks of future overcapacity and stranded assets.

This guide explains California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), a market-based regulation designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in the transportation sector by capping the carbon intensity of fuels.

The 'Hydrogen Criteria' document, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative in August 2023, establishes a draft framework for certifying hydrogen-related assets, projects, and entities. It defines eligibility for Use-of-Proceeds (UoP) bonds, Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs), and entity certifications across the hydrogen value chain, including production, conditioning, transportation, and storage. The criteria focus on strict greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity thresholds, mandatory adaptation and resilience assessments, and specific technical requirements for different production pathways.

The Turkey Electricity Review 2022 by Ember analyzes trends in Turkey's power generation, noting a three-year decline in coal generation and a record increase in wind and solar, though overall carbon intensity remains stagnant due to a rise in gas generation compensating for drought-impacted hydropower.

The Turkey Electricity Review 2022 report by Ember analyzes the trends in Turkey's power generation, noting a three-year decline in coal generation and a record increase in wind and solar power. However, it highlights that renewable growth has not kept pace with surging power demand, and carbon intensity has not significantly improved since 1990, leaving Turkey lagging behind several European peers.

This document outlines the methodology used by Ember for the European Electricity Review 2022, detailing the data sources, definitions, and calculation methods for electricity generation, capacity, and carbon intensity across European countries from 2000 to 2021.

The report analyzes the EU power sector in 2020, highlighting a landmark moment where renewables generated 38% of electricity, overtaking fossil-fired generation for the first time. While coal generation saw a significant decline, the report notes that the transition speed remains insufficient to meet 2030 and 2050 climate targets, partly due to the persistence of gas generation and a record drop in nuclear output.

This report by Agora Energiewende and Ember analyzes the European power sector in 2020, highlighting a milestone where renewables overtook fossil fuels as the primary source of electricity for the first time in the EU.

This research paper analyzes the alignment of 2018 U.S. light vehicle investments with the carbon intensity requirements of the Paris Agreement. It finds that the vast majority of financial flows, driven by private sector purchases of internal combustion engine vehicles, are critically misaligned with temperature trajectories, while government spending shows better alignment. The paper emphasizes the impact of 'locked-in' emissions from existing fleets and the necessity of scaling electric vehicles and modal shifts to meet climate goals.

A fact sheet detailing a USD 580 million green bond issued by Star Energy Geothermal (Wayang Windu) Ltd on April 24, 2018, to finance geothermal power assets in Indonesia.

This briefing argues that without a carbon intensity limit of 550gCO2/kWh for capacity payments, Europe's coal plants could be 'supercharged,' extending their operational lives and crowding out cleaner energy alternatives. The document outlines existing EU policy gaps that favor coal and details how specific capacity market designs risk subsidizing fossil fuels over modern technologies like batteries and demand-side response.

This research paper introduces a multi-sector Harrodian-Kaleckian growth model designed for long-run policy analysis, specifically to address the structural changes required for sustainable development and the reduction of carbon intensity in mature economies.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes the application of a water-energy-food nexus framework in Ningxia, China. It examines the interdependencies and potential conflicts between the province's development targets and its natural resource constraints, specifically regarding water scarcity, land-use changes, and a heavy reliance on coal for energy production.

This policy brief describes India's Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, a market-based energy efficiency mechanism targeting energy-intensive industries. Launched in March 2012 under the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency, the scheme uses plant-specific energy consumption reduction targets and tradable energy savings credits to reduce emissions and enhance industrial competitiveness.

This policy brief examines how China successfully leveraged the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to promote sustainable development. It highlights the role of powerful government ministries, coordinated capacity building, and the implementation of specific market restrictions to protect national interests and ensure local benefits.