Ember: Solar Power Sees Renewables Overtake Coal
Solar and wind power now expand at a rate sufficient to meet the world's increasing demand for electricity. In the first half of 2025 the combined expansion of these renewable sources surpasses global demand growth by 109%. Solar power alone meets 83% of this increase while coal generation experiences a slight decline of 0.6%.
New data from an Ember report analysis reveals that 88 countries that account for 93% of global electricity demand report that renewables have overtaken coal for the first time. This event could signal a turning point for the global power mix moving towards cleaner energy sources.
Solar power's record increase
Solar generation sees a substantial increase rising by 306TWh or 31% in the first half of 2025. This growth elevates its share of global electricity from 6.9% to 8.8%. According to Ember's data China is the largest contributor to this increase accounting for 55% of the growth. The United States follows with 14% the European Union with 12% India with 5.6% and Brazil with 3.2% and the rest of the world make up the remaining 9%.
The report also highlights that four countries now generate more than a quarter of their electricity from solar.
At least 29 countries now exceed the 10% mark up from 22 countries a year earlier and just 11 in the first half of 2021.
“We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point,” says MaĹgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Senior Electricity Analyst, Ember.
“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.
“As costs of technologies continue to fall, now is the perfect moment to embrace the economic, social and health benefits that come with increased solar, wind and batteries.”
Renewables overtake coal
Driven primarily by solar and supported by wind which grows by 97TWh or 7.7% total renewable generation increases by 363TWh to 5,072TWh in the first half of 2025. In contrast Ember's data shows that coal generation falls by 31TWh to 4,896TWh. This reduces coal’s share of global electricity from 34.2% to 33.1%. During the same period renewables' share climbs from 32.7% to 34.3%.
“This analysis confirms what we are witnessing on the ground: solar and wind are no longer marginal technologies, they are driving the global power system forward,” says Sonia Dunlop, CEO of Global Solar Council.
“The fact that renewables have overtaken coal for the first time marks a historic shift.
“But to lock in the progress, governments and industry must accelerate investment in solar, wind and battery storage, ensuring that clean, affordable and reliable electricity reaches communities everywhere.”
While hydro power declines and bioenergy dips slightly a modest rise in nuclear power leaves total fossil fuel generation marginally lower by 0.3%.
Regional dynamics and emissions
The shift in power generation has varying effects on emissions across different regions. In China and India fossil fuel generation fall as the growth in clean power outpaces demand. This leads to a reduction in power sector emissions with China seeing a decline of 46MtCOâ and India a fall of 24MtCOâ.
Conversely in the United States clean energy additions do not keep pace with demand growth results in an increase in fossil generation and a 33MtCOâ rise in emissions.
The European Union also sees a slight rise in fossil generation to compensate for weaker performance from wind hydro and bioenergy sources leads to a 13MtCOâ increase in emissions. Despite a 2.6% rise in global electricity demand overall power sector emissions edges down by 12MtCOâ.
With the costs of renewable technologies continuing to fall there is a strengthening case for accelerating investment in solar wind and storage to secure these gains and deliver wider economic social and health benefits.
