Clean energy. Europe leads

The world produced over 40% of its electricity last year from low carbon sources. This is the estimate of the new analysis of the Clean Energy Reflection Group. It is a record that has not been beaten since 1940, when the global electricity system was 50 times smaller than it is today and hydroelectric energy did the heavy work.

It is now solar energy that is climbing arrow in a race oriented to the construction of a fully clean electricity system. Global solar energy production has become large enough to feed all of India, according to Electricity Review of Embber.

However, emissions from the energy sector also reached a historic maximum last year, with 14.6 billion tons of CO2. This situation was essentially due to the need for cooling technology during heat waves, since 2024 became the hottest year of record-which underlines the urgency of energy transition.

According to the same data, the European Union (EU) is far ahead of the world average, having generated 71% of its electricity from clean sources in 2024, where nuclear power is included.

«Europe has cemented its world leadership in clean energy»says Beatrice Petrovich, senior analyst at Embber, to Euronews Green. Furthermore, « It is showing the world how you can have an increasing percentage of renewable energy »with almost half (47%) from solar, wind and water energy last year.

Solar energy is not a one -country history

Solar energy production in the European Union almost doubled in three years by 2024, representing 11% of electricity, exceeding the coal for the first time.

Seven Member States are among the 15 countries with the highest percentage of solar energy production worldwide. In short, says Petrovich, «The EU is a solar superpower».

In absolute terms, Germany produced 71 TWH (Terawatts-Hora) of solar last year, running sixth worldwide, with all countries to be exceeded by the production of 834 TWH from China.

Hungary is the country in the world with the largest percentage of solar energy in its electric cabaz, with 25%. This weight is due to the incentive regime that was applied to residential solar energy, thus increasing its capacity, explains Petrovich. But although this package of incentives is over, panels will continue to do their work for decades.

However, Spain receives the prize for the largest increase in solar energy production in Europe last year. Its 10 TWH increase, however, is again eclipsed by China’s 250 TWh. China was responsible for more than half of the global change in production – 53% – in 2024.

But at least in Europe, «Solar energy is not the history of one country»underlines Petrovich. « Widespread growth really says something about the flexibility and the possibility of expanding this technology »says. «Currently, there is a kind of solar energy history in all countries».

Even with less favorable meteorological conditions compared to 2023, the increase in the number of panels – including on roofs – led to the production of more electricity. Despite the high penetration rate, the growth of the EU solar capacity has not yet slowed down.

California, a model for the EU?

Now it’s time for Europe to show the world how to bring clean energy to the next level, says Petrovich. This means having even more solar and wind energy and the flexibility needed to make the most of them.

At the same time, it implies having a portfolio of solutions, including energy storage batteries, intelligent electrification of transport, buildings and industry, and an improved network to transfer electricity between regions.

«We have the largest network in the world. Now we need to make it smarter »says Petrovich, partly through the elimination of barriers.

Solutions that encourage people to change their consumption to heights where renewable energy are abundant and can help, for example, to have prices that encourage drivers to charge their electric vehicles during the day instead of doing it at night.

The necessary technology already exists, adds Petrovich, and a place that provides a model is California. Last year, the combination of solar energy and batteries of the US state meant that one fifth of the peak of the demand for electricity at night was satisfied by batteries loaded around noon.

Just three years ago, this number was only 2%-which is currently the situation of some key markets in Europe that are entering major batteries technology, such as Ireland.

«Perhaps California is a small sample of what we will see in Europe within three years»suggests.

Clean energy is
at the height of the challenges

global, from Ia to Russia

There are many uncertainties about what the future reserves us and how the history of energy will unfold in 2025.

Emerging technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), Data Centers, Electric Vehicles and Heat Pumps are already contributing to increased global demand, the report says.

The first two are particularly «Unknown»but Embber predicts that clean energy growth is rapid enough to support the rate of increased demand for electricity.

Heat waves were the main factor of the small increase in energy from fossil fuels last year and it is likely to increase as the climate crisis gets worse. But this does not have to mean a situation of return to fossil fuels.

«All countries are in a position to respond to increased demand with clean electricity»says Petrovich. Some ingredients make this easier, he adds, such as efficient refrigeration devices.

Europe has learned a ‘hard lesson’ on energy security after the total invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 and has since increasing renewable energies.

« Now that the situation is more tense with Russia, I think that concerns about security are really more important than they used to be and renewable energies are seen as a defense strategy. »alert Petrovich.

Central and eastern countries are those that should be observed in terms of solar energy and batteries.

Petrovich also says he is looking forward to seeing wind energy-which produced 18% of EU electricity-accelerate this year, thanks to faster licensing and, expected, to more favorable conditions.