Renewables become biggest source of electricity globally for 1st time, beating coal
Art Hunter
Worldwide solar and wind power generation has outpaced electricity demand this year, and for the first time on record, renewable energies combined generated more power than coal, according to a new analysis.
Global solar generation grew by a record 31 per cent in the first half of the year, while wind generation grew by 7.7 per cent, according to the report by the global energy think-tank Ember.
Solar and wind generation combined grew by more than 400 terawatt hours, which was more than overall global demand increased in the same period, it found.
Renewables become biggest source of electricity globally for 1st time, beating coal | CBC News
Renewables accounted for 34.3 per cent of electricity generation globally in the first half of 2025, while coal accounted for 33.1 per cent. It's the first time renewables have overtaken coal, according to the report.
The findings suggest it is possible for the world to wean off polluting sources of power — even as demand for electricity skyrockets — with continued investment in renewables including solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy and geothermal energies.
"That means that they can keep up the pace with growing appetite for electricity worldwide," said Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember and lead author of the study.
At the same time, total fossil fuel generation dropped slightly, by less than one per cent.
"The fall overall of fossil may be small, but it is significant," said Wiatros-Motyka. "This is a turning point when we see emissions plateauing."
The firm analyzes monthly data from 88 countries representing the vast majority of electricity demand around the world.
Reasons that demand is increasing include economic growth, electric vehicles and data centres, rising populations in developing countries and the need for more cooling as temperatures rise.
Meeting that demand by burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas for electricity releases planet-warming gases including carbon dioxide and methane. This leads to more severe, costly and deadly extreme weather.