In a historic shift, global wind and solar power generation surpassed coal in the first half of 2025, marking a significant milestone for the world’s energy transition, according to a report by climate thinktank Ember. The study revealed that renewables met the rising global demand for electricity, resulting in a slight decline in coal and gas usage.
Solar power saw a remarkable 33% increase compared to the same period in 2024, covering 83% of the global surge in electricity demand, while wind power grew by over 7%. This growth enabled renewables to overtake fossil fuels for the first time. “This is a pivotal moment,” said Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Ember’s senior electricity analyst and report author. “Solar and wind are now scaling fast enough to match the world’s growing energy needs, signaling the start of a clean power era.”
China and India drove much of the renewable energy boom, unlike the US and Europe, where fossil fuel reliance persisted. A separate International Energy Agency (IEA) report projects that global renewable capacity could more than double by 2030, with solar power accounting for 80% of new clean energy additions, alongside contributions from wind, hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal sources. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol noted that China will lead this growth, with India as the second-largest market, followed by emerging players like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Southeast Asian nations.
In China, renewable energy additions outstripped global counterparts, reducing fossil fuel use by 2% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. India’s renewable growth exceeded its electricity demand by over three times, leading to a 3.1% drop in coal use and a 34% decline in gas consumption. Conversely, the US saw a 17% rise in coal generation due to demand outpacing renewable growth, while the EU experienced a 14% increase in gas and a 1.1% uptick in coal use, driven by weaker wind and hydro output despite rising solar capacity.
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