Clean energy has reached a historic milestone. For the first time, wind and solar power have generated more electricity globally than coal, signaling a decisive shift in the world’s energy landscape, according to The Guardian, which cited a report by the climate think tank Ember.
This achievement was highlighted during the first half of 2025, when renewables supplied most of the world’s growing electricity needs, resulting in a slight decline in the use of coal and gas. Solar power grew by almost one-third compared to the same period in 2024 and accounted for 83% of the increase in global electricity demand. Wind power also rose by just over 7%.
«This marks the beginning of a new era where clean power keeps pace with global demand growth,» said Ember’s senior electricity analyst, Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka.
This shift has been primarily driven by China and India, which have led the global growth by expanding their renewable energy capacity faster than any other region. China added more renewable power than all other countries combined, resulting in a 2% reduction in its fossil fuel use.
In India, renewable energy generation grew more than three times faster than electricity demand, resulting in a 3.1% reduction in coal use and a 34% decrease in gas use.
In contrast to these trends, the report shows, the U.S. and Europe have increased their consumption of fossil fuels after some drops in wind and hydro power generation.
