India surpasses Germany, securing the position of the world’s third-largest producer of wind and solar energy.

In 2024, India eclipsed Germany to claim the title of the world’s third-largest producer of electricity from wind and solar energy, according to a comprehensive report released on Tuesday by Ember, a global energy think tank. The sixth edition of the Global Electricity Review highlighted that wind and solar power collectively accounted for 15 percent of global electricity production last year, with India contributing 10 percent to that share.

The report underscored a significant milestone in the global energy landscape: low-carbon sources, encompassing renewables like wind, solar, and hydropower, alongside nuclear power, supplied 40.9 percent of the world’s electricity in 2024. This marked the first time since the 1940s that such sources breached the 40 percent threshold. In India, clean energy sources generated 22 percent of the nation’s electricity. Hydropower led the way, contributing 8 percent, while wind and solar together made up 10 percent. Globally, renewable energy sources drove the surge in clean electricity, adding an unprecedented 858 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2024—a 49 percent increase over the previous record set in 2022.

Solar power emerged as the standout performer, solidifying its position as the largest source of new electricity for the third consecutive year by adding 474 TWh in 2024. It also retained its status as the fastest-growing power source for an impressive 20th year running. Over the past three years, global solar generation doubled, reaching 6.9 percent of the total electricity mix. India mirrored this trend, experiencing a sharp uptick in solar energy production. In 2024, solar power accounted for 7 percent of India’s electricity, a figure that has doubled since 2021. The country bolstered its solar infrastructure by adding 24 gigawatts (GW) of capacity in 2024—more than double the amount added in 2023—positioning India as the third-largest solar market globally, trailing only China and the United States. Additionally, India recorded the fourth-largest increase in solar generation worldwide, contributing an extra 20 TWh to its grid.

Phil MacDonald, Ember’s managing director, hailed solar power as the driving force behind the global energy transition. “Solar power has become the engine of the global energy transition,” he stated. “Paired with battery storage, solar is set to be an unstoppable force. As the fastest-growing and largest source of new electricity, it is critical in meeting the world’s ever-increasing demand for electricity.” MacDonald’s remarks reflect the growing consensus that solar, supported by advancements in energy storage, is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping the global power sector.

The Global Electricity Review, accompanied by an open dataset detailing electricity generation in 2024, analyzed data from 88 countries representing 93 percent of global electricity demand, while also incorporating historical data from 215 nations. Ember’s Asia Programme Director, Aditya Lolla, emphasized the accelerating pace of the clean energy transition in Asia, propelled by unprecedented growth in solar and other renewables. “With electricity demand set to rise across the region, a robust clean energy market is crucial for the continued expansion of clean power,” Lolla noted. “This will not only strengthen energy security and economic resilience, but also help emerging countries access the benefits of a new clean energy market economy.” He pointed to Asia’s rapid adoption of renewables as a sign of the region’s potential to lead in the global shift toward sustainable energy.

Neshwin Rodrigues, a Senior Energy Analyst at Ember, acknowledged India’s strides in embracing renewable energy but cautioned that significant challenges lie ahead. “India has made notable progress in adopting renewables but now faces a major challenge: ensuring its clean generation grows fast enough to meet rising demand,” Rodrigues said. As India’s economy and population continue to expand, so too does its appetite for electricity, placing pressure on the nation to scale up its renewable infrastructure swiftly and efficiently.

India’s ascent in the renewable energy arena has not gone unnoticed on the international stage. In February, Simon Stiell, the UN climate change chief, dubbed India a “solar superpower,” arguing that fully capitalizing on the global clean energy boom could propel the country’s economic ascent. Stiell’s comments underscored the strategic importance of renewable energy in India’s development trajectory, aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship.

India’s ambitions in this domain are formalized in its climate commitments, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2022. Under these pledges, India aims to derive 50 percent of its installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. This target reflects the country’s determination to transition away from coal and other carbon-intensive energy sources, which have historically dominated its power sector, toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy mix.

The Ember report paints a vivid picture of a world in the midst of an energy transformation, with renewables—particularly solar—leading the charge. For India, overtaking Germany to become the third-largest generator of wind and solar power is a testament to its rapid progress in this field. The country’s 10 percent share of electricity from wind and solar in 2024, combined with its 22 percent from all clean sources, signals a shift toward a greener grid. Hydropower’s 8 percent contribution remains a cornerstone of India’s clean energy portfolio, but the doubling of solar generation since 2021 highlights the dynamic growth of newer renewable technologies.

Globally, the 858 TWh added by renewables in 2024 represents a watershed moment, dwarfing previous records and underscoring the sector’s momentum. Solar’s dominance, with 474 TWh of new generation, reinforces its role as the backbone of this expansion. The fact that solar has been the fastest-growing power source for two decades speaks to its scalability and adaptability, qualities that India has leveraged to bolster its own energy transition.

India’s addition of 24 GW of solar capacity in 2024—a leap from the previous year—positions it as a key player in the global solar market, behind only China and the U.S. The 20 TWh increase in solar generation further cements its status as a leader in renewable energy growth. These achievements are not merely statistical; they reflect a broader commitment to meeting rising electricity demand with sustainable solutions, a challenge that Rodrigues and other analysts see as critical to India’s future.

As the world grapples with the dual imperatives of energy security and climate action, India’s rise as a renewable energy powerhouse offers a compelling case study. The country’s ability to harness wind and solar power at scale, while navigating the complexities of a growing economy, will be closely watched. With its 2030 target of 50 percent non-fossil fuel capacity in sight, India is poised to play a defining role in the global clean energy revolution, blending ambition with action to power its future.