By: Utilities Middle east

Solar and wind energy expanded faster than global electricity demand in the first half of 2025, resulting in a slight year-on-year decline in coal and gas use, according to new analysis from energy think tank Ember.

The report, reported on via GlobalData, highlights record growth in solar and steady expansion in wind, with renewables overtaking coal for the first time in the global power mix.

“We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point. Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity. This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth,” said Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Senior Electricity Analyst at Ember, according to GlobalData.

Global electricity demand rose by 2.6% in H1 2025, equivalent to an additional 369 terawatt-hours (TWh) compared with the same period last year. Solar alone accounted for 83% of this increase, with a record 306TWh generated — up 31% year-on-year.

The expansion of solar and wind contributed to a 0.6% drop in coal use and a 0.2% decline in gas, leading to a total fossil-fuel generation decrease of 0.3%. Renewables produced 5,072TWh of electricity during the period, surpassing coal’s 4,896TWh output for the first time.

Ember noted that the modest drop in fossil-fuel generation signals the growing ability of renewables to meet rising electricity demand.

China and India both saw declines in fossil generation as clean power growth outpaced consumption. China added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined, cutting its fossil generation by 2%, while India’s clean energy expansion exceeded demand growth by more than three times.

However, the trend was not universal. In the US, electricity demand grew faster than clean energy supply, while in the EU, reduced wind and hydropower output led to increased reliance on gas and coal.

Despite this uneven progress, Ember said accelerated deployment of solar, wind, and battery storage could strengthen energy security and reduce fossil dependence globally.