For the first time, the contribution of renewable energy sources to global electricity production has surpassed the 30% mark, highlights a report released today by the energy research center Ember.

Internationally, renewable energy's share rose from 19% in 2020 to over 30% by 2023, primarily due to a surge in solar and wind energy installations, according to the report.

The percentage of "clean" energy would have been even higher if not for a decline in hydroelectric production, which fell to its lowest level in five years due to droughts, particularly in China.

Solar and wind installations alone contributed 13.4% to global electricity generation, with the remaining percentage of "clean" energy coming mainly from other renewable sources, especially hydroelectric units. In 2010, clean energy sources made up less than 2% of the mix.

Ember suggests that this increase might allow the world, "possibly starting this year," to drastically reduce energy production from burning fossil fuels.

"The reduction of emissions from the energy sector is now inevitable," noted Dave Jones, an expert at Ember, adding that "2023 could have been a turning point in the history" of electricity production.

However, "the rate of emission reduction will depend on how quickly the renewable energy revolution continues," he added.

At the UN climate summit at the end of 2023, COP28, countries committed to act to triple the global renewable energy production capacity by 2030. This would enable the contribution of renewable sources to the global energy mix to reach 60%, Ember emphasizes.