Renewable energy sources surpassed coal as a share of global electricity generation for the first time in modern history in 2025, driven by record solar expansion in China and India, according to a comprehensive analysis by Ember, an energy research think tank. The milestone marks a turning point in the world’s energy transition, with solar and wind combined meeting 99 percent of net growth in global electricity demand over the year.
The achievement signals that clean energy can economically meet rising global electricity demand, even as electrification of transportation and industrial activity accelerate worldwide. The shift is critical as climate change, driven by burning coal, oil and gas, intensifies across the globe.
Renewables reached 33.8 percent of global electricity generation in 2025, according to a comprehensive analysis by Ember, an energy research think tank. Coal’s share fell below one-third of global generation for the first time this century. The shift reflects accelerating growth in solar and wind capacity worldwide. Clean power generation expanded by 887 terawatt-hours last year, exceeding global electricity demand growth of 849 terawatt-hours. The data covers 215 countries, with detailed analysis of 91 countries representing 93 percent of global electricity demand, according to the Ember report released April 20.
Solar and Wind Meet Rising Demand
Solar capacity expanded 30 percent in 2025 and alone accounted for 75 percent of net electricity demand growth globally. Combined with wind power, the two renewable sources met 99 percent of all net electricity demand growth over the year—the first time renewables have so thoroughly displaced fossil fuels in meeting incremental electricity needs.
China and India Lead the Expansion
China and India led the global expansion. China accounted for more than half of the world’s solar capacity and generation growth in 2025 and also contributed the bulk of new wind capacity. China’s fossil fuel electricity generation declined 0.9 percent, or 56 terawatt-hours, marking the country’s first year of decline this century. India’s fossil fuel generation fell 3.3 percent, or 56 terawatt-hours, a reversal from decades of fossil fuel-driven growth tied to economic expansion.
Battery Storage Accelerates Growth
Battery storage technology accelerated solar expansion. Battery costs fell 45 percent in 2025 while battery storage capacity grew 46 percent globally. The expanded storage capacity shifted roughly 14 percent of the solar generation added from midday hours to other periods of the day, extending the productive window for solar power beyond daylight hours.
Fossil fuel electricity generation essentially flatlined in 2025. Overall fossil fuel output fell 0.2 percent, or 38 terawatt-hours, marking one of only a handful of years without growth this century, according to Ember.
“We’re coming from a period over the last few decades where new electricity demand growth meant growth in fossil generation,” said Nicolas Fulghum, Ember’s senior data analyst and lead author of the report. “We’re now moving into a world where that’s no longer the case.”
The transition is occurring alongside rapid electrification of transportation and industrial activity—changes expected to sharply increase electricity demand in coming years. Yet Fulghum said clean power will be able to “structurally meet that increase in demand” while reducing fossil fuel electricity generation, a departure from decades of rising fossil fuel output.
The expansion of renewable capacity has accelerated despite policy headwinds in the United States. President Donald Trump’s administration has placed pressure on energy companies to boost coal, oil and gas production and reduced federal support for renewable energy. In Europe, by contrast, fossil fuel electricity generation continues to decline.
Alexis Abramson, dean of the Columbia University Climate School, said the renewable energy surge addresses both economic and national security concerns. “We’ve really crossed this important threshold that clean energy now can meet rising demand economically and at the same time really help address national security concerns,” Abramson said, noting that volatile oil prices tied to geopolitical conflict underscore renewable energy’s independence from international supply chains. “The next challenge is really turning that into a steady decline of fossil fuel use as well.”