In a global first, solar and wind power successfully met and surpassed the growth in electricity demand during the first half of 2025, resulting in a slight decline in fossil fuel generation.
The findings:
New analysis from Ember confirms this crucial milestone: for the first time ever, renewables generated more power than coal worldwide, supplying 5,072 TWh compared to coal’s 4,896 TWh.
The combined expansion of clean energy was sufficient to cover the world’s 2.6% increase in electricity demand (adding 369 TWh) and begin actively replacing fossil-fuel power. As a result, global power sector emissions fell by 0.2%.
Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Senior Electricity Analyst, Ember, said, “We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point. Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity. This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.”
Solar powers the global surge:
Solar energy was the primary driver of this breakthrough, accounting for a massive 83% of the total rise in electricity demand. Solar generation saw a record absolute growth of 306 TWh, a 31% year-on-year increase.
The exponential growth enabled fossil fuel generation to fall by 0.3% (-27 TWh). Coal generation dropped by 0.6% (-31 TWh), and gas fell by 0.2% (-6 TWh). This modest but significant drop indicates clean power can now simultaneously meet demand growth and displace legacy generation.
Wind power’s accelerating role:
Ember’s analysis confirms wind power’s accelerating role in the global energy transition, with its generation increasing by 11% in H1 2025. Wind and solar collectively generated 2073 TWh in the 12 months to June 2025, contributing to low-carbon sources surpassing 40% of global electricity in 2024. Wind alone supplied 8.1% of the mix that year, highlighting its essential and rapidly expanding contribution to a cleaner power system, especially in major markets like China and India.
Data:
| Energy Source | Generation Growth (TWh) | Year-on-Year Increase |
| Solar | +306 TWh | +31% |
| Wind | +97 TWh | +7.7% |
| Total Clean Energy Growth | +403 TWh (approx.) | – |
Uneven progress in major economies:
The four largest global economies showed mixed results in the energy transition:
China led the world in clean energy deployment, adding more solar and wind than the rest of the world combined. This growth outpaced demand, leading to a 2% drop in China’s fossil generation.
India also saw fossil fuels fall sharply, with coal dropping 3.1% and gas by 34%. This was due to record solar and wind expansion coinciding with an unusually low 1.3% electricity demand growth.
In contrast, fossil generation rose in the U.S. and the EU. The U.S. fossil generation increased because demand growth outstripped the rise in clean power. The EU saw weaker-than-expected wind and hydro output, which forced higher generation from gas and coal.
Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, underscored the need for accelerated action: “The fact that renewables have overtaken coal for the first time marks a historic shift. But to lock in this progress, governments and industry must accelerate investment in solar, wind, and battery storage.”
