Clean Energy Continues Growth in 2024

Heat Pumps, Electric Vehicles, and Solar Scale Up Through 2024

The clean energy transition is encouraging behavior change and investment at the individual, organizational, and community level. This trend is reflected by continued and increased growth in 2024 among a variety of clean energy technologies, including heat pumps, electric vehicles (EVs), and solar energy.

From greater energy efficiency and cost savings to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, converting to clean energy technologies can bring multiple benefits.

Here’s a look back at how clean energy progressed through 2024, plus tips and insights on how to make the switch to clean energy equipment in your own life.

Heat Pumps Outsell Gas Furnaces for Third Year

Sale numbers for 2024 show that the market remains hot for this dual heating and cooling equipment. For a third consecutive year, more heat pumps were sold in the U.S. than gas furnaces^[1].

The sales gap between these technologies reached an all-time high in 2024, with air source heat pumps outselling gas furnaces by 37%. This data doesn’t account for ground source heat pumps, also known as geothermal heat pumps, which can be installed at homes, businesses, and schools, or to heat and cool multi-building campuses.

New Yorkers can use NYS Clean Heat rebates to lower the cost of installing an air source heat pump, geothermal heat pump, or heat pump water heater. To learn more about how the zero-emission technology works, visit a local business or location near you participating in Experience Clean Heat and discover the difference in comfort and efficiency.

Source: Canary Media

EVs Hit Record Numbers in New York and U.S.

Electric vehicles continue to grow in demand across New York State and the U.S., with more drivers choosing EVs than any year on record.

In 2024, New York saw 90,221 new EV registrations, bringing the total number of EV drivers to more than 271,000 at the start of 2025. EV registration in 2023 totaled 78,950, meaning that 2024 saw a 14.3% jump in electric vehicle adoption across New York State ^[2].

Of the new EVs registered in New York State, 54,664 were battery-electric models and 35,557 were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles^[2]. Battery-electric EVs run completely on electricity, whereas plug-in hybrids have an all-electric range of around 20 to 50 miles and an internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline that kicks in once the battery power is exhausted.

More than 60 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle models are eligible for New York’s Drive Clean Rebate, saving drivers up to $2,000 of the lease of purchase of eligible new EVs.

Nationally, new battery-electric EV purchases increased from 1,212,758 in 2023 to 1,301,733 in 2024, representing a 7.3% increase in sales ^[3]. This doesn’t account for new plug-in hybrid sales, which totaled around 300,000 for 2024.

Meanwhile, used electric vehicle sales in the U.S. rose by 62.6% from 2023 to 2024. The inventory of pre-owned electric vehicles is expected to continue rising year over year. This provides an affordable entry point for first-time EV owners, as 57% of pre-owned electric vehicles on the market are estimated to be priced under $30,000 ^[4].

Solar Soars in New York and Nationally

Solar energy also saw significant growth across New York State and the U.S.

New York achieved its Climate Act goal of having 6,000 megawatts (MW) of distributed solar energy in October 2024 – several months ahead of the 2025 target. Distributed solar energy includes rooftop and ground-mounted solar on homes and businesses, as well as community solar projects, but not utility-scale solar systems.

In other words, this 6,000 MW solar capacity represents enough renewable electricity to power one million homes and businesses. New York is expected to have more than 10,000 MW (or 10 gigawatts) of distributed solar energy by 2030.

Taking a national perspective, solar represented 64% of the new electricity generation capacity installed in the U.S. in 2024, up from 55.5% in 2023 ^[5]. Similarly, utility-scale solar generation in the lower 48 states was 36% higher in the summer of 2024 than in summer 2023 ^[6].

Footnotes

1. Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute. (n.d.-a). AHRINET. https://www.ahrinet.org/sites/default/files/Stat Release Nov 24/November 2024 Statistical Release.pdf (opens in new window)
2. NYSERDA. (n.d.). Electric Vehicle Registration Map. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Drive-Clean-Rebate-For-Electric-Cars-Program/Rebate-Data/Map-of-EV-Registrations (opens in new window)
3. Kelly Blue Book. (2025, January 14). Electric Vehicle Sales Report — Q4 2024. https://www.coxautoinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Q4-2024-Kelley-Blue-Book-EV-Sales-Report-revised.pdf (opens in new window)
4. Najman, L. (2025, January 28). Used Electric Car Prices & Market Report - Q1 2025. Recurrent. https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/used-electric-vehicle-buying-report (opens in new window)
5. Solar Market Insight Report Q4 2024. SEIA. (2025, January 10). https://seia.org/research-resources/solar-market-insight-report-q4-2024/(opens in new window)
6. U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2024, October 2). Utility-scale U.S. solar electricity generation continues to grow in 2024. Today in Energy https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=63324 (opens in new window)