Same data, more power: Data Explorer 2.0
Ember Current – July 2025 Newsletter
Three years ago, I worked on the first version of Ember’s flagship Electricity Data Explorer. Back then, Ember was a much smaller organisation and my own skills in web development were severely limited. Nevertheless, we created a tool that thousands of people regularly relied on for accurate and up-to-date data on the global electricity system.
This June, we launched a new version of the Explorer that makes it even easier to access, interact with and visualise the world’s most complete and up-to-date global electricity dataset. I’ve seen Ember grow substantially since that first Explorer three years ago, bringing many talented and skilled people onto our team. The new Explorer is the result of these specialists finding new ways to make our data exciting and shareable. Whether you want to follow the month-to-month electricity transition in your own country or care more about the global picture, our Electricity Data Explorer can provide a wealth of useful insights to you.
Happy exploring!
Nic
Seeing this newsletter for the first time? Scroll to the bottom of this page to subscribe and get Ember Current monthly – directly to your inbox!
Insights, analyses and commentaries
My top picks for June
Solar power is reaching ever higher shares in some of the world’s largest power systems, but batteries promise to take this to the next level. Advances in technology and price reductions for both batteries and solar mean that solar power is no longer constrained to the daytime, but can deliver power 24 hours a day across the whole year. One of my favourite pieces published in June was an investigation into how 24/365 solar can already be a reality with today’s technology.
Ember also reported on the need for more ambitious grid planning if countries in Europe want to compete in the growing race for AI data centers – a topical issue right now. Another favourite June report described how electrification — the process of moving from fossil fuels to electricity — can fundamentally change the game and move us faster towards a clean energy future. It’s a brilliant read!
Solar electricity every hour of every day is here and it changes everything
Batteries are now cheap enough to unleash solar’s full potential, getting as close as 97% of the way to delivering constant electricity supply 24 hours across 365 days cost-effectively in the sunniest places.
Grids for data centres: ambitious grid planning can win Europe’s AI race
Proactive electricity grid planning is a pull factor for data centres, driving economic activity.
“As Europe courts AI industries, grids will be a make-or-break factor. While hosting AI infrastructure promises tantalising benefits such as economic growth and digital sovereignty, these cannot materialise if grid congestion gets in the way. Countries investing now in innovative grids will more than likely emerge as Europe’s data infrastructure hubs in the years to come”, says Ember analyst Elisabeth Cremona.
The electrification imperative
How a switch from burning fossil fuels to using electricity can unlock the full value of the energy transition.
There’s more! Here’s what else we published this month
- Türkiye can bypass grid constraints with hybrid solar power plants | Read the report
- EU national targets show gas in decline | Read the report
- Response to draft guidelines for Virtual Power Purchase Agreements in India | Read the paper
- From threat to opportunity: energy security in Central and Eastern Europe | Read the paper
Ember in the news
- Israel-Iran was was a wake-up call for Asia’s dependence on Middle East oil | Associated Press
- Sunny Greece struggles with solar energy overload | France24
- Southeast Asia braces for data centre boom | The Jolt
What else I’m reading
- Statistical Review of World Energy | Energy Institute
- Batteries are so cheap now, solar power doesn’t sleep | Electrek
Visual storytelling corner
Chart of the month
My pick for June’s chart of the month is taken from our analysis of the EU’s final National Energy and Climate Plans. One of Ember’s data viz experts, Reynaldo Dizon, took inspiration from the circular layout of the EU Council’s meeting room in Brussels and its vibrant carpet (designed to give equal visual weight to all 27 Member States) to provide a fitting visual metaphor presenting national target data on common ground.
The graphic reveals that most EU countries still lack adequate or complete data for critical aspects of the energy transition. Many targets are missing entirely or rely on outdated scenarios, limiting the EU’s ability to coordinate effectively and deliver on its climate goals.
You can see more of Ember’s best graphics from June in Datawrapper’s recent Data Viz Dispatch blog, which showcases some of the best data visualizations produced by newsrooms and other organisations from around the world.
Turning data into action
Data highlights
Released for the first time in May, our monthly capacity tracking for wind and solar power shows the transition in real-time for some of the world’s biggest economies.
Compare multiple regions or countries, spot seasonal patterns and track electricity mix changes over time. Our new explorer provides lots of new insights!
Our China Solar PV Export Explorer gives advanced knowledge of where solar is taking the next step.
Country spotlight
China reached a major milestone in April with more than a quarter of its electricity coming from wind and solar – a level that was maintained in May, according to the latest data. China installed 93 GW of solar in May, which is roughly equivalent to the total solar capacity that Germany — the world’s sixth largest solar generator — has ever installed.
So far this year, China’s increase in clean power has been large enough to meet and exceed demand growth, resulting in a fall in fossil generation of 2.6% in January to May compared to the same period in 2024.
Join our team
We’re hiring!
Want to know more about what it’s like to work with us? Visit our careers page, or get in touch via [email protected]
- Coal methane analysts (one senior, one mid-level) — closes 8 July (remote) | Apply now
Ember Current is a revamp of an existing monthly newsletter delivered to our subscribers. Ember Current is written by a different one of our analysts each month, bringing you their own top picks of Ember’s insights and a little window into what has felt important to them over the course of the last few weeks. If you want to receive these updates each month, scroll to the bottom of this page and sign up!
Featured image credits
Quang Ngoc Nguyen / Alamy Stock Photo
Acknowledgements
Claire Kaelin, Chelsea Bruce-Lockhart, Kavya Sharma, Nicolas Fulghum, Reynaldo Dizon, Rini Sucahyo
