In a historic milestone, global electricity generation from renewables overtook coal during the first half of 2025, according to data from the Ember think tank.
Solar and wind produced 5,072 terawatt-hours, edging out coal’s 4,896 TWh. Much of this rise was driven by expansions in China and India, where renewable generation jumped significantly while reliance on fossil fuels declined.
China alone cut fossil fuel use by 2% while boosting solar output by 43% and wind by 16%. India saw wind and solar outputs grow by 29 % and 31 % respectively, contributing to a reduction in coal and gas generation.
Still, the transition was not uniform: the U.S. and parts of Europe saw increases in coal and gas output due to weak renewable generation and rising electricity demand. Analysts say this marks a tipping point in the global energy transition, though challenges remain in storage, grid infrastructure, and policy alignment.
