Wind power set a number of records in 2024

The year 2024 was one of the milestones for the global development of renewable energy sources, and in a number of countries wind power continues to lead the way among the fastest growing electricity generation technologies, increasingly displacing fossil fuels from the market.

On its Facebook page, the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association provides examples of some of the world’s leading countries whose energy balance results for 2024 best demonstrate this.

United States of America

From January to November 2024, wind and solar energy provided a record 17% of electricity in the United States, exceeding the share of coal for the first time, which amounted to 15%. At the same time, in March and April, wind power alone generated more electricity in the United States than coal, reaching 13-15% compared to 11% for coal.

In addition, as of the end of 2024, 10 US states generate 50% or more of their electricity from renewables.

Great Britain

The country’s energy balance in 2024 is recognized as the cleanest in history. Over the past ten years, the country has halved its use of fossil fuels, compensating for this with renewable energy sources.

Wind power generated almost 30% of electricity in 2024, the largest share in the country’s energy history. On December 18, wind provided 68.3% of the country’s electricity. In addition, this year, wind generation has outpaced gas generation, whose share has decreased to 26.3% in the United Kingdom’s electricity sector.

Germany

Last year, the share of renewables in the country’s electricity balance reached an impressive 59% (4% more than the previous year). Here, the onshore wind sector also took the lead, generating 25.9% of all electricity. 2024 also became the first year when nuclear power did not play any role in the country’s electricity balance, where the last nuclear power plant was shut down in April 2023.

Ember suggests that policies aimed at accelerating the introduction of renewable energy in the country have played a significant role, in particular in optimizing the issuance of permits. Importantly, in 2024, the German government also recognized renewables as a priority of public importance or a sector of common public interest, which made it possible to simplify procedural aspects and encourage German citizens to actively participate in the development of this generation in the country.

The European Union

According to the Fraunhofer ISE Institute, in 2024, the share of renewables in the bloc’s electricity balance increased to 49.4%, with 17.5% coming from wind energy (15.2% for onshore and 2.3% for offshore wind power).

According to the UWEA, the experience of the world’s leading countries demonstrates that the transition to renewable energy, in particular wind energy, is a key element in ensuring energy independence, decarbonizing the economy and forming a modern energy system. For Ukraine, this experience is a valuable benchmark, given the urgent challenges associated with rebuilding the energy infrastructure after the war and achieving climate goals. As Germany’s example demonstrates, recognizing renewables as a priority of public importance simplifies administrative processes and speeds up project implementation, which is extremely important for the Ukrainian market as well.

Ukraine has all the prerequisites for large-scale RES development. However, this requires clear political commitments, regulatory reforms, and the creation of favorable conditions for attracting investment. Global experience proves that the transition to clean energy is not only an environmental necessity, but also a strategic opportunity for economic growth and energy independence.