Solar and wind generated a record 13.4% of global electricity in 2023
Dated 31 December 2023: Solar and wind generated a record 13.4% of global electricity in 2023. In the causal graph this event strengthens Renewable capacity buildout, a driver that strengthens Renewable share of global electricity generation — an improving welfare path.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
No public contributors are listed for this fact.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactSolar and wind generated a record 13.4% of global electricity in 2023
- strengthensDriverRenewable capacity buildout
- strengthensIndicators (5)Renewable share of global electricity generation
provisional weight · verified
Strengthens · 90% impact strength (driver → indicator)
Observed
30% of electricity generation · 11 above the normal line (2023)
Better than normal6 readings, 2000–2023: rose from 18.9% of electricity generation to 30% of electricity generation.
Above normal = better
Strengthens · 85% impact strength (driver → indicator)
Observed
55.1% of gross electricity consumption · 24.9 below the normal line (2025)
Worse than normalAbove normal = better
Weakens · 45% impact strength (driver → indicator)
Observed
4.73 tonnes CO2 per person per year · 2.43 above the normal line (2024)
Worse than normalTwo readings: 4.71 tonnes CO2 per person per year (2023) and 4.73 tonnes CO2 per person per year (2024).
20232024 Above normal = worse
All indicators on this path (5)
Strengthens · 40% impact strength (driver → indicator)
Observed
91.6% of population · 8.4 below the normal line (2023)
Worse than normal4 readings, 2020–2023: rose from 90.4% of population to 91.6% of population.
Above normal = better
Weakens · 35% impact strength (driver → indicator)
Observed
32.9 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted) · 27.9 above the normal line (2023)
Worse than normal3 readings, 2021–2023: fell from 33.2 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted) to 32.9 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted).
Above normal = worse
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- FactSolar and wind generated a record 13.4% of global electricity in 2023
- strengthensDriverRenewable capacity buildout
- strengthensIndicatorRenewable share of global electricity generation
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Solar and wind generated a record 13.4% of global electricity in 2023. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/ember-global-solar-wind-electricity-share-2023
https://factrail.ai/facts/ember-global-solar-wind-electricity-share-2023
Accessed 16 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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