For the first time, renewable energy has surpassed coal as the leading source of global electricity generation, a new report from the energy think tank Ember finds.

In the first half of 2025, renewable sources--including solar, wind, and hydro--accounted for 34.3% of global electricity, compared with 33.1% from coal. China and India were the primary drivers, adding significant renewable capacity, while Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, still relied on fossil fuels to meet growing demand.

Global coal generation declined 0.6% year-over-year in the first half of 2025. Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a senior electricity analyst at Ember, said emerging economies are investing heavily in clean energy infrastructure, giving them greater energy independence. Countries including Hungary, Pakistan, and Australia also set national records in solar production.

Despite progress, rising electricity demand--fueled by AI, data centers, and industrial growth--puts pressure on renewable energy systems. Daniel Cohan, a civil and environmental engineering professor at Rice University, noted that wind and solar are being "put to the test" as new demand exceeds previous growth rates.

China has led the world in solar manufacturing, cutting costs dramatically while scaling production. According to Cohan, wind and solar are now expanding fast enough to not only meet growing electricity demand but also begin reducing global fossil fuel use--marking a potential tipping point for cleaner energy worldwide.

Source: npr.org/ ember-energy.org