Sign in Subscribe

Clean energy and GDP: 2nd inning

2024 looks to set another record for clean and green technologies globally.

SL Staff B

• 1 min read

In 2023, clean technologies accounted for 10% of the planet's GDP. If you hadn't heard, you can read read our two-minute summary here.

Now, we wait with bated breath to see if the merchants of the world stand with the planet, to see if they extend what might be an aberration into the momentum so sorely needed.

In other words, was 2023 a one-off? Or is it step 1 in a trend? The first inning in a longer game?

While not all the figures are tallied up yet, we do know that in 2024, clean industries contributed 13.6 trillon yuan to China's economy. That's $US 1.88 trillion, or €1.73 trillion.1, 2, 3

Here are other early indicators:4

  • Worldwide demand for renewable energy is up, as it continues to be embedded more often into quoting processes as a preferred option
  • High renewable-power demands in landmark industries (AI, crypto, electric transportation) continued to raise expectations for non-carbon energy sources
  • Supply-side efficiencies continue to make renewables more desirable (a whole article hides in this one!)
  • Even though wind capacity leases and permits faced some challenges, wind-generated power set new records in 2024
  • Solar capacity jumped 88% worldwide

In a few more weeks, all the fourth-quarter 2024 accounting will be finished, after which it will trickle up to analysts and to reporting agencies.

So far, 2024 looks as though "green and clean" will quite clearly make a greater contribution to the global economy than they did in 2023.

So ... lookin' good, there 2024. Nicely done.

Updates from the optimism front as news comes in.

⚡️

Reading

  1. ReportLinker. “China’s Clean Energy Revolution: Powering the Future and Economy.” Accessed March 13, 2025. https://www.reportlinker.com/article/10638.
  2. Reporter, Staff. “Clean Energy Made up over 10 Percent of China’s GDP in 2024.” Macao News (blog), February 20, 2025. https://macaonews.org/news/greater-china/china-clean-energy-gdp-2024/.
  3. Myllyvirta, Lauri. “Analysis: Clean Energy Contributed a Record 10% of China’s GDP in 2024.” Carbon Brief, February 19, 2025. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-clean-energy-contributed-a-record-10-of-chinas-gdp-in-2024/.
  4. Deloitte Insights. “2025 Renewable Energy Industry Outlook.” Accessed March 15, 2025. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-industry-outlook.html.

Sign up for more like this.

Enter your email
Subscribe