Renewable energy has overtaken coal to become the world’s largest source of electricity in 2025, according to thinktank Ember. The growth of solar and wind meant that, for the first time since 1919, the share of coal power was lower than that of renewables. Fossil-fuel generation fell by 0.2% in 2025, the thinktank’s latest annual review says, with wind and solar alone meeting 99% of the growth in electricity demand last year. While generation from fossil fuels has occasionally fallen year-on-year in the past, Ember says this is the first time it has happened due to the structural shift towards clean power, rather than due to economic crises or other one-off events Record solar generation was key to pushing fossil fuels into reverse, increasing 30% year-on-year – meaning it met 75% of global electricity demand growth in 2025 alone. Other findings include: Solar power generation grew by a record 636 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2025. This exceeded the electricity that could be generated from all liquid natural gas (LNG) exports through the strait of Hormuz. Wind saw the second-largest increase in generation, growing 205TWh. Coal power continued to fall, meaning, for the first time in history, it accounted for less than a third of global electricity generation. The global electric vehicle (EV) fleet continued to grow, displacing 1.8m barrels per day (mbpd) of oil demand in 2025. New EVs alone in 2025 displaced 0.5mbpd. Record renewables In 2025, both solar and wind power generation continued their recent rapid growth, according…
