Solar and Wind Power Exceed Global Electricity Demand in 2025
In a significant shift, global solar and wind power generation has exceeded electricity demand this year. This remarkable feat is driven by record-breaking growth in countries like India and China, while fossil fuel generation has seen a slight decline.
The first half of 2025 saw a staggering 31% increase in global solar generation, with wind generation growing by 7.7%. Combined, these renewable energies generated over 400 terawatt hours, surpassing overall global demand growth. Notably, for the first time in history, renewable energies generated more power than coal.
China and India led the charge, with both countries seeing a drop in emissions. China, the world's largest market for solar, added more capacity in the first four months than Germany has in 25 years. Meanwhile, India's solar and wind growth outpaced demand growth, with fossil fuel generation also decreasing. In the U.S., Texas emerged as the leading state in solar capacity with 20.7 GW installed and plans for further additions. Europe, too, showed strong growth, particularly in wind energy, with Austria surpassing 10 GW of installed PV capacity.
These developments underscore the potential of continued investment in renewables to wean the world off polluting sources of power. As solar and wind generation outpaces demand and coal, the path towards a cleaner energy future becomes increasingly clear.
