Global Renewable Energy Share 32%, We Only Have 10% [Climate Crisis Now]

The share of clean energy sources such as nuclear power, hydropower, solar power, and wind power in the global power grid has exceeded 40% for the first time ever.



On the other hand, the share of solar power generation in Korea was only 5% last year. It only increased by 1 percentage point over the past three years compared to 4% in 2021.



The share of total renewable energy generation in Korea was also recorded at 10%, which is very low compared to the global average of 32%.



A wind turbine at Wolyeong Port in Hallim-eup, Jeju-do, turns in the sunset. [Photo=Reporter Jeong Jong-oh]



According to the 'Global Electricity Review 2025' published by Ember, a global energy think tank, the share of clean power sources that do not emit greenhouse gases in global power generation in 2024 was recorded at 40.9%, exceeding 40% for the first time ever.



This is the first recorded figure since the 1940s. The main growth engine was the expansion of renewable energy centered on solar and wind power. In particular, solar power will double its power generation in just three years, increasing by 474 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024 alone, accounting for the largest share of new electricity demand worldwide.



Solar power has also been the fastest-growing power source for 20 consecutive years. Renewable energy, including solar and wind power, will increase by 858 TWh in 2024, up 49% from its peak annual increase in 2022.



On the other hand, Korea has shown a trend that goes against this trend. Last year, the share of solar power generation in Korea was only 5%, increasing only 1 percentage point over the past three years compared to 4% in 2021.



The share of total renewable energy generation is also 10%, which is very low compared to the global average of 32%. The same goes for wind power generation, with Korea's share standing at 0.5% as of 2024, virtually stagnant since 2020. Recently, a special law for the offshore wind power industry was passed, but the spread is still slow.



The proportion of clean energy such as nuclear power, hydroelectric power, solar power, and wind power has exceeded 40% worldwide. [Photo = Amber]



Phil McDonald, CEO of Amber, said, "Solar power generation is the engine of the global energy transition," and "Solar power generation combined with the development of battery storage technology will establish itself as an irreversible trend, and solar power is the fastest-growing new source of electricity, and it is very important to meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity worldwide."



Last summer, the world experienced an unusual heat wave. Korea was no exception. According to the report, about 20% of the increase in global electricity demand due to the heat wave in 2024 was analyzed to come from cooling demand.



In Korea, electricity demand increased by 11TWh due to the heat wave. This shows that climate change is affecting energy demand, compared to the fact that electricity demand would have decreased by 1.1% if the same temperature conditions as in 2023 had been maintained.



Renewable energy has responded to the rapidly increasing demand for electricity. Three-quarters of the increased electricity demand in 2024 will be met by renewable energy such as solar and wind.



In Korea, coal power generation has fallen by 28% since peaking in 2017. The decrease was made up by gas power generation, not renewable energy. Since coal power peaked in 2017, gas power generation has increased from 136 TWh to 178 TWh.



Despite the decline in coal power generation, Korea has the highest per capita electricity sector emissions among the 10 countries with the highest electricity consumption, due to its high per capita electricity demand and high share



of fossil fuels. "Asia's clean energy transition is accelerating, driven by record growth in solar and other renewable energy sources," said Aditya Rolla, Asia program director at Ember. "With the right policies and continued investment, renewable energy can play a bigger role in strengthening energy security and facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels."



Kim Joo-jin, CEO of Climate Solutions, said, "We must swiftly phase out coal-fired power generation and completely scrap plans to transition to gas-fired power generation, another fossil fuel." He added, "Renewable energy is the only sustainable alternative, so in order to quickly expand it, we must improve power system policies that favor thermal power generation and discriminate against renewable energy, and minimize solar distance regulations that are set without scientific basis."



Meanwhile, Ember's sixth annual report provides the first comprehensive overview of the global power system in 2024, including data for 88 countries that account for 93% of global electricity demand.





https://www.inews24.com/view/blogger/1831962

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