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28m ago

Solar and Wind Surpass Coal in Global Power for First Time, Ember Finds

Solar growth outpaced rising demand, led chiefly by China and India.

FILE - Wind turbines operate as the sun rises at the Klettwitz Nord solar energy park near Klettwitz, Germany, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
Workers inspect solar panels at a photovoltaic power station on a hill in Linyi, Shandong province, China August 11, 2018. Picture taken August 11, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
FILE - A solar farm is visible in Hainan prefecture of western China's Qinghai province July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
FILE - Wind turbines operate in a rural area near Canudos, Bahia state, Brazil, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

Overview

  • Renewables supplied 5,072 TWh in January–June 2025, exceeding coal’s 4,896 TWh in Ember’s analysis of 88 countries covering about 93% of global demand.
  • Global electricity use rose 2.6% (+369 TWh), with solar meeting 83% of the increase (+306 TWh, +31% year over year) and wind adding 97 TWh (+7.7%).
  • Fossil generation dipped 0.3% as coal fell 0.6% and gas 0.2%, leading to an estimated 0.2% decline in power‑sector emissions.
  • China and India reduced fossil output as clean generation surged, while the U.S. and EU turned to more coal and gas due to faster demand growth or weaker wind and hydro.
  • The IEA projects renewable capacity could roughly double by 2030 with solar providing about 80% of new additions, with progress hinging on investment in grids, storage and permitting.