Clean Power Surpasses Coal for the First Time — A Global Turning Point

For the first time in history, the world’s wind and solar farms have generated more electricity than coal — a moment that marks a profound shift in the global energy landscape.

According to new research by climate think tank Ember, renewable energy has officially outpaced the world’s growing hunger for electricity. In the first half of 2025, solar and wind power met nearly all new demand, leading to a small but significant decline in coal and gas use worldwide.

Solar power generation alone rose by almost one-third compared to 2024, accounting for a staggering 83% of the global increase in electricity demand. Wind power followed with a 7% rise, together pushing renewables beyond fossil fuels for the first time ever.

“Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity,” says Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior analyst at Ember. “This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power keeps pace with demand growth.”

The surge is being led by China and India, which have rapidly scaled up renewables and reduced their fossil fuel dependence — with China cutting coal use by 2% and India slashing coal and gas by 3.1% and 34% respectively.

By contrast, the US and EU saw a rebound in coal and gas due to weather fluctuations and slower clean energy growth, underscoring the uneven pace of the global transition.

Still, the broader trajectory is clear. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts global renewable capacity will more than double by 2030, with solar power driving 80% of that growth. Emerging economies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are also accelerating solar adoption, signaling a wave of new clean energy leadership.

This milestone isn’t just about technology — it’s a sign of what’s possible when innovation, policy, and collective will align. The age of coal is ending. The era of clean, regenerative energy has begun.