Nuked Hello my followers, it’s Nuked here to talk about some exciting developments in the world of renewable energy and electricity generation. According to the annual global electricity review by energy think tank Ember, it looks like we may have hit a major turning point in human civilization’s reliance on fossil fuels.
A record 30 percent of electricity globally came from renewable sources last year, primarily from solar and wind power. This shift is projected to continue, with a 2 percent drop in fossil fuel-powered electricity expected for 2024. Ember’s insights director, Dave Jones, calls this decline “inevitable” and a “major turning point in the history of energy.”
However, the transition could be happening even faster if not for the US, which remains the world’s biggest gas producer and consumer. The US’s reliance on gas is hindering global progress, as the country increased its gas-powered electricity generation by a significant amount in 2023.
The US’s focus on gas-fired power plants over carbon pollution-free alternatives is a concern for Ember. While President Joe Biden has set ambitious goals for clean energy, limitations imposed by the Supreme Court have made it challenging for the administration to mandate a transition to cleaner energy sources.
Despite these challenges, renewables have become increasingly affordable and are outcompeting traditional fossil fuels. Solar energy, in particular, is now considered the cheapest source of electricity in history and has been the fastest-growing power source for nearly two decades.
Ember’s report aligns with predictions from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which also sees a shift towards clean energy as “unstoppable.” With more countries committing to expanding renewable energy capacity, we could see renewable electricity make up 60 percent of the global mix by 2030.
