“It Finally Happened”: Solar and Wind Just Overtook Coal in Global Power Generation (and the Race to Stay Ahead Begins)

The global energy landscape has reached a significant milestone as renewable energy sources, specifically solar and wind, have surpassed coal in electricity generation for the first time. This development marks a pivotal moment in the transition towards cleaner energy solutions, driven by substantial growth in solar energy and steady wind expansion. According to a report by climate think tank Ember, this shift is primarily attributed to record solar expansion and consistent wind growth in major economies like China and India. As the world grapples with rising electricity demand, renewables are emerging as a viable solution to meet these needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Solar Power Leads the Clean Energy Surge

In the first half of 2025, solar energy took the lead in the global energy transition, expanding its share of the electricity mix from 6.9 percent to 8.8 percent. This growth was spearheaded by China, which contributed 55 percent of the global increase in solar generation. Other significant contributors included the United States, accounting for 14 percent, the European Union with 12 percent, India at 5.6 percent, and Brazil at 3.2 percent.

Remarkably, four countries have now surpassed the threshold of deriving more than a quarter of their electricity from solar energy, a significant achievement in the renewable energy landscape. Furthermore, 29 countries achieved solar generation levels exceeding 10 percent, up from 22 countries the previous year. These advancements have driven renewable energy generation to 5,072 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the first half of 2025, marking a 7.7 percent increase from the previous year.

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As a result of these developments, coal generation experienced a decline of 31 TWh, falling to 4,896 TWh. Consequently, renewable sources now account for 34.3 percent of global electricity production, overtaking coal’s 33.1 percent share. This shift was largely driven by China and India, where clean energy growth outpaced electricity demand, leading to a reduction in fossil fuel generation.

Mixed Trends in the US and Europe

Despite Asia’s leadership in the global clean energy transition, the trend was not uniform across all regions. In the United States, electricity demand grew at a pace faster than renewable output, causing coal generation to rise by 17 percent in the first half of 2025. Similarly, the European Union faced challenges due to weather-related dips in wind and hydro generation. Although solar energy saw robust growth, the EU still experienced a 14 percent increase in gas generation and a 1.1 percent rise in coal generation to compensate for reduced renewable output.

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The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that solar photovoltaic systems will continue to dominate the global clean energy expansion. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, stated, “The growth in global renewable capacity in the coming years will be dominated by solar PV – but with wind, hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal all contributing, too.” The IEA anticipates that renewables could more than double by the end of the decade, with 80 percent of new capacity coming from solar energy.

A Historic Shift, but Challenges Remain

While the milestone of renewables surpassing coal is both symbolic and structural, maintaining this lead over fossil fuels will require sustained policy support, investment in battery storage, and expansion of transmission infrastructure. Experts emphasize that continued momentum is essential to lock in progress and ensure widespread access to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity.

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Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “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. The fact that renewables have overtaken coal for the first time marks a historic shift. But to lock in this progress, governments and industry must accelerate investment in solar, wind, and battery storage, ensuring that clean, affordable, and reliable electricity reaches communities everywhere.”

“This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.” – Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Ember

Renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, have reached an unprecedented level of significance in the global energy mix. This transition marks a defining moment in the world’s energy landscape, as renewables move from the margins to the mainstream of power generation. However, as the world embraces this shift, it raises questions about the future of energy policy and infrastructure. How will governments and industries navigate the challenges of sustaining this growth and ensuring equitable access to clean energy?