The year 2025 marked a significant turning point in the global energy landscape, as renewable sources finally overtook coal to become the world's primary electricity provider. This shift, as reported by the thinktank Ember, is a testament to the rapid growth and increasing dominance of solar and wind power.
What makes this development particularly fascinating is the historical context. Coal, once the backbone of the industrial revolution, has been dethroned by the very technologies it powered. The fact that this transition has occurred due to a structural shift towards clean energy, rather than temporary economic downturns, is a powerful indicator of the irreversible nature of this change.
Solar's Stellar Performance
Solar power, in particular, had a record-breaking year. Its generation increased by a staggering 30% year-on-year, meeting an impressive 75% of the global electricity demand growth in 2025. This growth, as Ember notes, was not a one-off event but a reflection of the continued structural expansion of solar capacity.
One detail that I find especially interesting is the comparison with LNG exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Solar generation in 2025 exceeded the electricity that could be generated from all LNG exports through this critical chokepoint, highlighting the immense potential of solar power and its ability to challenge traditional energy sources.
Wind and Nuclear: Steady Growth
While solar took the spotlight, wind power also had a significant year, with an increase of 205TWh. Nuclear power, too, saw moderate growth, reaching an all-time high. This growth was driven by new reactors coming online, particularly in China, France, and Japan.
Despite this, solar and wind are expected to overtake nuclear power in 2026, further cementing the dominance of renewable sources in the global energy mix.
The Coal Decline
Coal power, which has dominated the energy landscape for over a century, finally saw its share drop below a third of global electricity generation for the first time in history. This decline is a result of rapid clean-power deployment, particularly in China and India, two of the world's largest emitters.
The fact that coal generation fell in both these countries concurrently for the first time in 52 years is a significant milestone. It shows that even in regions where coal has been a major player, the transition to clean energy is gaining momentum.
Emissions and Demand
The growth of clean power has had a positive impact on emissions. Despite a 2.8% increase in global electricity demand, power-sector emissions fell slightly in 2025. This decoupling of demand growth from emissions growth is a key indicator of the success of renewable energy sources in reducing our carbon footprint.
The average kilowatt-hour produced globally in 2025 resulted in 2.7% lower emissions than in 2024, a significant achievement. If this trend continues, as Ember suggests, we could see fossil-fuel generation plateau and then decline consistently from the early 2030s.
The Future of Energy
The year 2025 has set the stage for a future where clean energy is the norm. The growth of renewables, particularly solar and wind, is expected to continue, further driving down emissions and aiding the decarbonization of other sectors.
The increasing electrification of key sectors, such as transport and data centers, will add to rising electricity demand. However, the rollout of storage technologies, particularly the rapid scale-up of battery storage, will support this expansion and help meet the growing demand.
In my opinion, the energy transition we're witnessing is not just a shift in technology but a cultural and societal transformation. It's a move towards a more sustainable and responsible future, and the data from 2025 shows that we're well on our way.
