India surpassed Japan to claim the title of the world's third-largest solar power producer, as per findings from the global energy research institute Ember. This achievement marks a significant rise from its ninth position in 2015. The Global Electricity Review 2024 presents a detailed analysis of the global electricity landscape for 2023, utilizing data from individual countries.
It was published alongside the world's first open dataset on electricity generation in 2023 covering 80 countries representing 92 percent of global electricity demand, as well as historic data for 215 countries. "India's growth in solar generation in 2023 pushed the country past Japan to become the world's third-largest solar power generator. It has climbed from ranking ninth in 2015", the report said.
According to the report, solar energy contributed a historic 5.5 percent to global electricity production in 2023. Reflecting this global shift, India derived 5.8 percent of its electricity from solar sources during the same period. Notably, India experienced the fourth-largest surge in solar generation worldwide in 2023, marking an increase of 18 Terawatt hours (TWh). This growth places India behind China, the United States, and Brazil, which saw increases of 156 TWh, 33 TWh, and 22 TWh, respectively. Collectively, these top four nations accounted for a staggering 75 percent of the global solar energy growth observed in 2023.
"A renewables-powered future is now becoming a reality. Solar power, in particular, is growing at an unprecedented pace", said Aditya Lolla, Ember's Asia Programme Director. Solar maintained its status as the world's fastest-growing electricity source for the nineteenth consecutive year, adding more than twice as much new electricity worldwide as coal in 2023.
The momentum of solar power has surged significantly in recent years, with global solar generation in 2023 surpassing its 2015 levels by more than sixfold. In India, this growth has been even more remarkable, with solar generation skyrocketing to a staggering 17 times its 2015 figures. Notably, India's portion of solar generation within its electricity mix surged from a mere 0.5 percent in 2015 to a substantial 5.8 percent by 2023. Projections for decarbonizing electricity underscore the pivotal role that solar energy will play in shaping the future of the global energy landscape.
In accordance with the IEA Net Zero Emissions scenario, solar energy is projected to surge to 22 percent of global electricity generation by 2030. This aligns with the ambitious target set during COP28, aiming to triple global renewable energy capacity by the same year, a move with the potential to propel the world toward this trajectory. Notably, India stands out among the few nations committed to tripling its renewable capacity by 2030. However, according to an analysis by Ember, India will need to substantially ramp up its annual capacity additions to meet this ambitious target.