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Renewables Overtake Coal in Global Power for the First Time

Record solar expansion powered by Chinese manufacturing delivered the shift.

Overview

  • Ember’s mid‑year data show renewables supplied 34.3% of global electricity in H1 2025 versus coal’s 33.1%, with solar up 31% covering 83% of net demand growth and wind up 7.7%.
  • China drove 55% of global solar growth and dominates production of panels, batteries and EVs, while India accelerated deployment and countries such as Pakistan set new solar records.
  • The IEA warns roughly 1,700 GW of projects remain in grid queues as curtailment rises, calling for urgent investment in transmission, storage and flexible resources.
  • U.S. policy rollbacks, permitting blocks and a stop‑work order on the Revolution Wind project have weakened the domestic outlook, and the IEA has halved its U.S. capacity growth forecast, shaving about 5% off global projections.
  • Global fossil generation edged lower and power‑sector CO2 emissions fell slightly as clean power exceeded demand growth, while China’s clean‑tech exports reached about $120 billion through July, reshaping energy trade dynamics.