Renewable energy outpaces coal for global electricity generation in historic first, report says

A recent analysis by the energy think tank Ember reveals a landmark shift in the world’s power mix: for the first time, renewable sources have outpaced coal in electricity generation. In the first half of 2025, renewables produced roughly 34.3 percent of global electricity, while coal dropped to 33.1 percent.

Drivers of the Change

Much of the progress was fueled by rapid deployment of solar, wind, and hydropower, especially in populous developing nations like China and India.  In both countries, renewable energy growth outpaced increases in electricity demand, enabling them to reduce fossil fuel generation. 

At the same time, coal generation globally declined (by ~0.6 percent) over the same period. 

Significance & Interpretation

Analysts view this milestone as a potential tipping point. As Małgorzata Wiatros‑Motyka of Ember put it, “We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point … solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity.” 

In some regions, renewables are not just keeping pace with demand—they are outpacing it, enabling a net reduction in fossil fuel use and, consequently, a modest dip in carbon emissions from the power sector. 

That said, the picture is uneven. In the United States and European Union, electricity demand growth, combined with weaker renewable output (e.g. low wind or hydropower performance), led to increased reliance on fossil fuels during the same window. 

Challenges & Risks Ahead

• Meeting the rising demand: With surging demand driven by technologies like data centers, artificial intelligence, and electrification, clean energy sources must scale even faster.

• Infrastructure & investment: While renewables are cheaper to run once built, the upfront cost and scale of infrastructure—grids, storage, transmission—remain significant hurdles. 

• Policy variation across countries: Countries that anticipated the shift and invested heavily (like China) are reaping benefits, while others lag behind in infrastructure or regulatory support. 

• Sustainability of the momentum: To sustain decline in fossil fuel use, renewables must not only meet new demand but also displace existing fossil generation. If renewable growth lags, coal and gas plants may continue operating at higher capacity than prior. 

In short, the first half of 2025 marked an historic shift: renewable energy has overtaken coal in the global electricity mix. But while this is cause for optimism, the challenge now is turning that milestone into sustained decline in fossil fuel dependency across all regions.

Source: npr