Renewables Overtake Coal in Global Energy Generation

‍By the Numbers: Renewables Lead the Way

Renewable sources—led by surging solar and wind—generating 5,072 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in the first half of 2025.
Coal's output fell to 4,896 TWh—down 0.3% or 31 TWh year-on-year.
The rise in renewables fully met the global jump in electricity demand (up 2.6% or 369 TWh), enabling fossil fuel-powered generation to shrink slightly despite overall economic growth.
Solar power posted a remarkable year-on-year generation increase of 306 TWh (+31%), while wind added another 97 TWh (+7.7%).

The Global Picture: Who’s Driving Change?

China and India: China, in particular, has added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined, allowing its fossil generation to fall by 2%, even as demand rises. India continues to expand its clean energy base, steadily reducing its reliance on coal and gas.
United States and EU: The US saw electricity demand rise faster than clean supply, slightly increasing fossil fuel use. In the EU, weak wind and hydro output this year meant that coal and gas generation temporarily ticked up.
Rest of the World: Most growth in renewables is happening in rapidly developing countries, encouraged by falling costs of solar, wind, and battery storage, alongside supportive government policies.

Why It Matters
This milestone signals a fundamental change—solar and wind are now central to global electricity supply. Experts see this as the “beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth” and expect that, as the exponential rise of renewables continues, fossil fuel generation will increasingly decline year after year.

Power sector emissions have accordingly started to fall, dropping 0.2%, or 12 million tonnes of CO2, in the first half of 2025—a small but meaningful signal that decarbonisation is possible even while growing the world’s energy supply.

Looking Ahead
International agencies, such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), project renewables' share of global power going even higher in the coming years, potentially surpassing 36% by 2026, with coal at its lowest share in a century. To solidify and accelerate this shift, experts urge governments and the energy sector to prioritise ongoing investment in renewables and grid infrastructure to ensure clean, affordable, and reliable electricity for all.

Conclusion
The overtaking of coal by renewables in global energy generation is a turning point—a clear sign that the world has entered a new era for electricity, with solar and wind at its core. As this momentum builds, the world’s challenge is to ensure that this revolution delivers benefits quickly and equitably, locking in a safer climate and cleaner air for all.

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