Renewables' share of global electricity
Renewables generated about 32% of the world's electricity in 2024, and the IEA projects that share rising to roughly 43% by 2030. Hydropower remains the largest single source at around 14%, with wind near 8% and solar PV near 7%.
Source: IEA — Renewables 2025 — renewable electricity (2025)
What it means
Nearly a third of the world's electricity already coming from renewables, and rising sharply, means a plant's grid-supplied power is steadily decarbonising even before it changes anything. For an operator that strengthens the case for electrifying process heat and drives, because the carbon intensity of every electric kilowatt-hour is falling year on year.
Context
The IEA's Renewables 2025 analysis shows solar PV adding the most new capacity, with wind second. The 32% figure covers all renewable sources including hydro, wind, solar, bioenergy and waste. Hydropower output varies with rainfall, so the renewable share moves somewhat year to year, but the structural trend — a rising share driven mainly by solar and wind — is firmly established across analysts.
How to interpret this data
About the source: This data comes from IEA. Public datasets like this are the foundation of fact-based decision-making in industry. When you see these numbers cited in vendor proposals or consultant reports, remember: the raw data is freely available, and the value is in how you interpret it for your specific plant and situation.
Where this matters: How to reduce industrial energy costs are built on insights like the data shown here. Rather than treat data in isolation, read the deeper guides to see how these trends translate into actionable levers for your plant.
Sector relevance: This dataset is especially relevant to Power Generation, Chemicals. These sectors face the trends and challenges you see in this chart daily — energy cost pressure, the push for decarbonization, adoption of AI and predictive maintenance. Use this data to benchmark your plant against the industry average and identify where you lag or lead.
How to use this data: Take the headline number but look deeper at the chart. Is it growing or shrinking? Which segments or regions drive the trend? Does your plant's data align, or are you an outlier? Outliers are often where the best opportunities hide — either an efficiency gap you can exploit, or a leading practice you can copy.
Related charts
Where industrial electricity goes
Electricity's rising share of industrial energy
How fast global electricity demand is growing
Related topics
How to Reduce Industrial Energy Costs: Practical Quick Wins · Net Zero · Carbon Footprint
Relevant to: Power Generation · Chemicals · Cement