Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time
Record solar expansion and steady wind growth driving world’s shift away from fossil fuels in 2025, report finds
Jillian Ambrose
Tue 7 Oct 2025 00.01 BST
The world’s wind and solar farms have generated more electricity than coal plants for the first time this year, marking a turning point for the global power system, according to research.
A report by the climate thinktank Ember found that in the first six months of 2025, renewable energy outpaced the world’s growing appetite for electricity, leading to a small decline in coal and gas use.
The world generated almost a third more solar power in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2024, meeting 83% of the global increase in electricity demand. Wind power ([url]https://www.theguardian.com/environment/windpower[/url]) grew by just over 7%, allowing renewables to displace fossil fuels for the first time.
The milestone represents “a crucial turning point”, according to Ma?gorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a senior electricity analyst at Ember and the author of the report.
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/07/global-renewable-energy-generation-surpasses-coal-first-time[/url]
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Record solar expansion and steady wind growth driving world’s shift away from fossil fuels in 2025, report finds
Jillian Ambrose
Tue 7 Oct 2025 00.01 BST
The world’s wind and solar farms have generated more electricity than coal plants for the first time this year, marking a turning point for the global power system, according to research.
A report by the climate thinktank Ember found that in the first six months of 2025, renewable energy outpaced the world’s growing appetite for electricity, leading to a small decline in coal and gas use.
The world generated almost a third more solar power in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2024, meeting 83% of the global increase in electricity demand. Wind power ([url]https://www.theguardian.com/environment/windpower[/url]) grew by just over 7%, allowing renewables to displace fossil fuels for the first time.
The milestone represents “a crucial turning point”, according to Ma?gorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a senior electricity analyst at Ember and the author of the report.
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/07/global-renewable-energy-generation-surpasses-coal-first-time[/url]
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