A new report reveals that renewable energy sources generated 34% of global electricity in 2025, exceeding coal’s 33% share for the first time ever.
Renewable Energy Achieves Historic Milestone
Renewable energy sources reached 34 percent of global electricity production in 2025, surpassing coal’s 33 percent share – a first in history, according to a report released Tuesday by Ember, an independent energy and climate organization based in London.
The report indicated this is the first instance since 2020 of a global decline in coal-fired power generation, and the first time its share has fallen to one-third of worldwide production. Global coal production is estimated to have decreased by 63 TWh in 2025.
Declining Fossil Fuel Use in China and India
Analysts at Ember attribute this decline to reduced fossil fuel consumption in China and India, coupled with the expansion of green energy systems in those countries. This led to record growth in clean energy, outweighing increased demand.
China and India Lead the Shift
“In China, fossil fuel power generation fell by 56 TWh (compared to 2024 – PAP) as rapid growth in clean energy covered all the increase in demand. In India, fossil fuel power generation fell by 52 TWh, supported by record growth in solar and wind power, high hydropower production, and slower demand growth,” the report stated. This marks the first time this century that fossil fuel power generation has declined in both China and India.
Record Solar Power Growth
Researchers noted a record increase in global solar power production of 636 TWh in 2025, representing a 30 percent increase year-on-year. Since 2015, solar power production has increased more than tenfold, roughly doubling every three years.
Ember determined that global solar power production now equals the total electricity demand of the 27 member states of the European Union.
China Dominates Solar Growth
China is the global leader in solar power growth, accounting for over half of the increase in both solar capacity and generation last year.
Renewables Cover Global Electricity Demand Increase
Renewable energy sources covered the entire global increase in electricity demand in 2025. Solar energy alone covered three-quarters (75 percent) of this growth, while solar and wind combined covered almost all of it (99 percent). Total green energy production increased by 887 TWh, slightly exceeding the demand increase of 849 TWh, resulting in a 0.2 percent decrease in fossil fuel power generation. 2025 was only the fifth year this century without growth in fossil fuel electricity production.
Battery Storage Expansion
Experts also observed the growth of battery technology alongside increasing solar energy demand, enabling 24/7 power supply. In 2025, sufficient battery capacity was installed to shift 14 percent of the year’s generated solar energy to other times of day (night or heavy cloud cover).
A Turning Point in the Energy System
“Solar power has been the dominant driver of change in the global electricity system,” said Aditya Lolla, Managing Director of Ember. “Combined with battery storage, this paves the way for rapidly scalable, 24/7 clean power.”
About the Global Electricity Review
Ember has published its “Global Electricity Review” report for the seventh time, providing an overview of the global electricity system based on national data. This year’s publication includes data from 215 countries, including 91 that account for 93 percent of global electricity demand.
