UK Leads Clean Energy Gains Since 2015, Up 19.5%

The world's largest economies are cleaning up their electricity grids, but the pace of change looks dramatically different depending on where you live.

Since 2015, the UK has led all major economies in clean energy growth, boosting its clean electricity share by 19.5 percentage points to reach nearly 65% today. Japan follows close behind with a 15.9 point increase, while Germany added 14.6 points to reach over 58% clean power.

The progress marks a real turning point in how the world generates electricity. Wind farms, solar panels, nuclear plants, and hydroelectric dams now power a bigger share of homes and businesses across Europe and beyond than ever before.

France maintains its position as the cleanest major economy overall, with nearly 95% of its electricity coming from clean sources thanks to decades of nuclear power investment. Brazil has also surged ahead, jumping from 76.7% to 89.4% clean electricity in less than a decade.

China deserves credit for adding 11.3 percentage points of clean energy despite its massive and growing electricity demand. The country now generates over 38% of its power from clean sources, though coal still plays a major role in absolute terms.

The United States sits in the middle of the pack with an 8.7 point increase, bringing its clean share to just under 42%. Growth in wind and solar has been steady but not as dramatic as European gains.

The Ripple Effect

The shift to cleaner electricity means cleaner air for millions of people living near former coal plants. It also signals growing momentum in fighting climate change, with renewables becoming cheaper and more reliable each year.

Countries leading the transition are creating thousands of jobs in solar installation, wind turbine manufacturing, and grid modernization. The UK alone now employs over 250,000 people in renewable energy sectors.

Not every country is moving at the same speed. India has added just 5 percentage points since 2015, while Russia's clean share barely budged at 1.9 points. These gaps highlight how economic priorities, natural resources, and political will shape energy choices differently across the globe.

The data comes from Ember and covers the world's top 10 economies through early 2026, tracking electricity from nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, and other renewable sources.

Clean energy is no longer a distant dream but a growing reality powering homes and hope worldwide.