“Global Solar and Wind Power Exceeds Electricity Demand”

This year, global solar and wind power generation has exceeded electricity demand, marking a historic milestone where renewable energies produced more power than coal for the first time ever. A recent analysis by the global energy think-tank Ember revealed that solar generation surged by 31% in the first half of the year, while wind generation grew by 7.7%. Combined, solar and wind generation increased by over 400 terawatt hours, surpassing the overall growth in global demand during the same period.

Renewables accounted for 34.3% of global electricity generation in the first half of 2025, surpassing coal’s share at 33.1%, representing a significant shift in the energy landscape according to the report. The findings highlight the potential for transitioning away from polluting energy sources with continued investments in renewables like solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal power.

Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember and lead author of the study, noted, “Renewables can effectively meet the rising global electricity demand.” Meanwhile, fossil fuel generation saw a slight decrease of less than one percent, indicating a notable turning point towards emission reduction.

Ember’s analysis covers data from 88 countries that represent a significant portion of global electricity demand. The rising demand for electricity is attributed to various factors such as economic growth, increased use of electric vehicles and data centers, growing populations in developing nations, and the need for more cooling as temperatures rise.

The report emphasizes that meeting this demand through fossil fuel consumption releases greenhouse gases, contributing to severe climate impacts. The transition to renewable energy sources presents a crucial opportunity to mitigate these effects.

China, India Leading Progress

The report also highlighted China, India, the European Union, and the U.S., which collectively contribute to a significant portion of global electricity generation and carbon dioxide emissions. In the first half of the year, China led in solar and wind capacity additions globally, while reducing fossil fuel generation by two percent.

India experienced remarkable growth in solar and wind generation, surpassing demand growth, and also witnessed a drop in fossil fuel generation and emissions. These trends indicate positive strides in emission reduction.