Ember: How has Global Renewable Energy Overtaken Coal Power?

Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to satisfy the world’s rising appetite for electricity. 

In the first half of 2025 their combined growth exceeded global demand growth by 109%, with solar alone meeting 83% of the increase as coal generation slipped 0.6%. 

New data from Ember’s report analysis shows that 88 countries, covering 93% of global demand, reported that renewables overtook coal for the first time on record, signalling a decisive shift in the power mix.

Solar’s record surge

Solar generation rose by 306 TWh (+31%) in H1 2025, lifting its share of global electricity from 6.9% to 8.8%. 

China contributed 55% of the increase, with the United States at 14%, the European Union at 12%, India at 5.6% and Brazil at 3.2%, while the rest of the world accounted for 9%. 

Four countries now generate more than a quarter of their electricity from solar and at least 29 exceed 10%, up from 22 a year earlier and only 11 in H1 2021.

“We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point,” says Małgorzata 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 chiefly by solar and supported by wind (+97 TWh, +7.7%), renewables grew by 363 TWh (+7.7%) to 5,072 TWh in H1 2025, according to Ember.

Ember's data also shows, coal generation fell by 31 TWh to 4,896 TWh, lowering coal’s share of global electricity to 33.1% from 34.2%, while renewables climbed to 34.3% from 32.7%. 

“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.”

Hydro declined and bioenergy dipped slightly, with a modest rise in nuclear, leaving total fossil generation marginally lower (-0.3%).

Regional dynamics and emissions

Fossil generation fell in China and India as clean power outpaced demand, rose in the United States where clean additions lagged demand growth and inched up in the European Union to offset weaker wind, hydro and bioenergy. 

Despite global demand rising 2.6% (+369 TWh), power sector emissions edged down by 12 MtCO₂, with declines in China (-46 MtCO₂) and India (-24 MtCO₂) offsetting increases in the EU (+13 MtCO₂) and the US (+33 MtCO₂). 

With technology costs continuing to fall, the case strengthens for accelerating solar, wind and storage to lock in these gains and deliver economic, social and health benefits at scale.