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The World Electricity Review 2025 executive summary reports that low-carbon electricity exceeded 40% of global generation in 2024, driven by record growth in renewables, particularly solar. Despite this, fossil fuel generation increased slightly due to a surge in electricity demand caused by heatwaves, leading to record-high power sector emissions.

The Ember Global Electricity Review 2025 executive summary reports that low-carbon electricity exceeded 40% of global generation in 2024, driven by record growth in renewables, particularly solar. Despite this, heatwaves increased electricity demand, leading to a slight rise in fossil fuel generation and record-high sector emissions.

In 2024, wind and solar combined to produce 17% of US electricity, surpassing coal (15%) for the first time. While electricity demand rose by 3%, solar generation grew by 27%, adding more generation than gas to meet this demand. Despite the growth in clean energy, overall power sector CO2 emissions rose slightly by 0.7% because gas generation increased to meet rising demand, though carbon intensity reached a record low.

The report analyzes how extreme heatwaves in 2024 increased electricity demand and fossil fuel generation in the world's three largest electricity markets: China, the United States, and India. Using a population-weighted temperature methodology, Ember found that cooling needs significantly drove demand spikes during critical summer months, leading to increased reliance on coal and gas to fill generation gaps.

This report by RMI examines the challenges of forecasting large electricity loads—such as data centers and advanced manufacturing—in the United States. It argues that traditional forecasting methods are insufficient for the rapid growth and unique operational characteristics of these loads, which can lead to risks in grid reliability and customer affordability. The document provides a framework for understanding load characteristics, outlines best practices for utilities, and offers specific regulatory actions to ensure forecasts are thorough, up-to-date, and validated.

This report by Ember analyses Energy Information Administration (EIA) data to demonstrate how solar power and battery storage met a significant portion of the United States' rising electricity demand in 2025.

In the first half of 2024, wind and solar power generated 30% of the European Union's electricity, surpassing fossil fuels (27%) for the first time. This shift occurred despite a 0.7% rebound in electricity demand, driven by structural capacity growth and favorable weather conditions, leading to a 17% decline in fossil fuel generation and a 31% drop in power sector emissions compared to the first half of 2022.

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.

A report by Ember providing data on the European Union electricity sector in 2023, highlighting trends in generation, demand, and CO2 emissions over the last two decades.

This report by Ember analyzes global power sector emissions and electricity generation for the first half of 2023, noting that emissions plateaued due to a historic decline in hydropower output that offset gains from wind and solar growth.

The Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2023 report by Ember analyses global electricity generation from January to June 2023. It finds that global power sector emissions plateaued, increasing by only 0.2%, as significant growth in wind and solar was offset by a historic decline in hydropower generation caused by droughts.

A February 2023 briefing by Global Energy Monitor reporting a dramatic acceleration in coal power plant permitting and construction in China during 2022, driven by peak load increases and regional energy security concerns, despite record clean energy additions.

Ember provides comments on India's draft National Electricity Plan (Vol.I: Generation), raising concerns about potential shortfalls in meeting 2030 renewable energy targets and the risk of overestimating peak demand, which could lead to excessive coal capacity investment.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity data from the first half of 2022 (H1-2022) compared to H1-2021, focusing on the role of renewable energy in meeting growing electricity demand and its impact on fossil fuel generation and carbon emissions.

This report by Ember analyzes electricity generation and clean energy targets in the five largest ASEAN economies (ASEAN 5). It finds that while electricity demand is growing rapidly, the deployment of solar and wind power is lagging behind global averages and is insufficient to meet 1.5-degree climate pathways, with current 2030 plans projected to reach only 11% of total generation.

A report by Ember and Climate Risk Horizons argues that India has 27 GW of planned coal power plants that are no longer necessary to meet electricity demand by FY 2030, labeling them "zombie" plants that threaten renewable energy goals.

This report by Ember analyzes monthly electricity generation data in Europe, noting that EU electricity demand nearly returned to 2019 levels by August 2020, which contributed to a rise in coal generation.

In the first half of 2020, renewable electricity generation exceeded fossil fuel generation for the first time in the EU-27, driven by new installations, favorable weather, and a COVID-19-related drop in electricity demand.

The 2020 Global Electricity Review by Ember analyzes global electricity generation changes in 2019, highlighting a record 3% fall in global coal-fired generation and a corresponding 2% drop in power sector CO2 emissions. While the EU and US saw significant coal collapses, China's coal generation rose, making it responsible for over half of global coal generation for the first time. Wind and solar generation grew by 15%, though the report notes that this growth rate is slowing and may be insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals without concerted global effort.

The report reviews the European power sector in 2015, noting a record increase in renewables generation that was largely offset by increased electricity demand and a decline in nuclear and hydro output. Consequently, power sector CO2 emissions fell by only an estimated 0.5% in 2015, following a much larger 7.5% drop in 2014. The author maintains a forecast that EU ETS emissions will fall 21% from 2014 to 2020, potentially leading to 30% economy-wide CO2 cuts by 2020.