In a historic first for the global energy transition, renewable energy sources have overtaken coal as the world’s largest source of electricity generation, according to new data from the global energy think tank Ember.
The milestone, achieved in the first half of 2025, underscores the accelerating growth of solar and wind power, which together met 100% of the world’s increased electricity demand during the period. The rapid expansion of renewables even helped drive a slight decline in coal and gas use, marking a turning point in the battle to curb emissions from the power sector.
Yet, Ember warns that the headlines mask a deeply uneven global picture.
China and Emerging Economies Lead the Clean Power Surge
The report shows that much of the momentum came from developing economies, particularly China, which has installed record levels of solar capacity in recent years. China alone accounted for nearly two-thirds of new global solar generation, while other emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are also scaling up renewables to meet soaring domestic energy demand.
“Developing countries are now driving the clean electricity revolution,” Ember analyst Dr Sarah Brown said. “What’s remarkable is that many of these economies are adding renewable capacity not only to cut emissions, but because it’s the cheapest and most secure way to power growth.”
Richer Nations Backslide on Fossil Fuels
In contrast, richer nations, including the United States and members of the European Union, saw a temporary rebound in fossil fuel generation, driven by slower renewable buildouts, nuclear outages, and weather-related demand spikes.
Europe’s hydropower recovery following drought conditions helped stabilise its electricity mix, but coal and gas still filled gaps in supply in several markets. In the United States, a surge in air-conditioning demand during an unusually hot summer increased gas generation despite strong solar growth.
“The progress in renewables globally is historic, but the pace in advanced economies must accelerate again if net zero targets are to stay on track,” Ember said.
Electricity Demand Keeps Rising
Global electricity demand grew by around 2% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, driven largely by the continued electrification of transport, heating, and industry — all essential pillars of the clean energy transition.
Solar generation rose 23%, while wind grew 11% over the same period, according to Ember’s analysis. Together, renewables accounted for roughly 30% of global electricity — surpassing coal’s 29%, a symbolic shift that experts say signals “the beginning of the end” for the world’s most carbon-intensive power source.
The Road Ahead
Global electricity demand grew by aro
Despite the achievement, Ember’s report cautions that fossil fuels still dominate 60% of global power generation, and the decline in their use must accelerate sharply this decade to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.
“The clean electricity transition has clearly entered a new phase,” said Ember’s Executive Director Dave Jones. “But this is not a finish line, it’s a crucial inflection point. Governments must now double down on renewables, grids, and storage to ensure coal and gas decline much faster.”
The findings highlight both progress and peril: the world is finally generating more power from clean sources than from coal — but unless all economies align behind the same momentum, the global race to net zero could still stumble.
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