In a groundbreaking achievement for renewable energy, global electricity generation from renewable sources surpassed that of coal for the first time in history during the first half of 2025. According to Ember, a clean-energy think tank, the surge in solar energy deployment has been instrumental in reaching this landmark. Solar energy’s share of global electricity production more than doubled from 3.8% in 2021 to 8.8% in early 2025, while wind power also contributed to the rise in clean energy generation.
Together, solar and wind energy met all of the new electricity demand in the first half of this year and even replaced some fossil fuel usage. However, coal remains the predominant source of electricity worldwide. Despite the milestone, no individual renewable source can match the output of coal. In fact, coal consumption in the first half of this year remained higher than in the same period in 2021, indicating stagnation in coal power generation. While fossil fuels like coal continue to dominate, the upward trend of renewables presents an optimistic future. This progress is a crucial sign of the shifting dynamics in energy production, underscoring the need for an ongoing acceleration toward cleaner energy alternatives to mitigate environmental harm. The journey towards a more sustainable energy landscape is just beginning.