The world may have reached a historic milestone in its energy transition, as renewable power generation overtook coal globally for the first time, according to new analysis by Ember, a global energy think tank. The findings suggest a “crucial turning point” in the shift toward clean energy sources such as solar and wind.
Ember’s report, based on monthly electricity data from 88 countries representing 93 percent of global demand, found that renewables generated more electricity than coal during the first half of 2025. The data revealed that while overall electricity demand grew by 2.6 percent — equal to 369 terawatt hours (TWh) — renewables were able to meet and exceed this rise, producing 5,072 TWh of electricity.
Coal generation, meanwhile, fell slightly to 4,896 TWh, down by 31 TWh or 0.3 percent compared to the same period last year. Gas generation also saw a minor decline, while solar and wind power surged, collectively meeting nearly all new demand growth.
Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember, described the development as “the first signs of a crucial turning point.” She said, “Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity. This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.”
The report highlights solar energy as the standout performer, contributing 83 percent of the total increase in renewable generation. Solar output grew by 31 percent year-on-year, or 306 TWh, setting new global records. Wind generation also made strong gains, helping to offset declines in fossil fuel-based electricity.
Ember estimates that global power sector emissions fell by 0.2 percent in the first half of 2025 — a modest but meaningful drop that underscores the accelerating role of renewables in cutting carbon output.
Across major economies, China and India saw fossil fuel generation decline as renewable capacity expanded. In contrast, the United States and the European Union experienced slight increases in fossil generation due to higher demand and weaker wind and hydro performance, respectively.
Sonia Dunlop, Chief Executive of the Global Solar Council, called the findings “historic,” saying, “Solar and wind are no longer marginal technologies — they are driving the global power system forward.”
Julia Skorupska, Head of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, said the shift demonstrates how “the economics of power generation have been transformed.” She added that renewables are now “the cheapest forms of energy in most of the world,” emphasizing that accelerating investment in clean energy ahead of COP30 will be vital to sustain this progress.
With renewables surpassing coal for the first time, analysts say the global energy landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation — one that could define the next era of power generation.
