Renewables Topped Coal in Global Power Mix in 2025, Ember Says
(Bloomberg) -- Clean power outpaced coal’s share in the world’s electricity supply in 2025 for the first time in more than 100 years and met all the growth in demand, according to a report by global energy think tank Ember.
Solar, wind and other renewables made up 34% of global electricity generation in 2025, overtaking coal’s 33% share for the first time since 1919, when demand was a tiny fraction of current levels, according to the report.
Global coal generation declined in 2025, the first drop since 2020, the report added.
The shift comes as energy security tops the political agenda globally with the Iran war upending the world’s oil and gas flows. Oil and gas prices have surged in recent weeks after attacks on key energy facilities in the Middle East and shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. That’s sharpened the focus on renewables as a way to limit exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
“Clean energy is rapidly redefining the foundation of energy security in a volatile world,” said Aditya Lolla, managing director at Ember. “It is already helping countries reduce exposure to fossil fuel imports and costs while meeting rising electricity demand.”
In total, clean electricity generation rose by 887 tera-watt hours in 2025, according to the report, slightly exceeding demand growth of 849 TWh. Three-quarters of this was met by new solar capacity.
China continues to outpace the rest of the world in renewable deployment, installing more than half of the increase in both global solar capacity and two-thirds of new wind in 2025, the report added.
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