Ember: "Green" energy sources outpace coal in global production for the first time

In 2025, for the first time in history, solar and wind power plants in the world generated more electricity than coal-fired power plants. This is evidenced by a study by the Ember think tank, writes The Guardian.

According to the report, in the first half of 2025, renewable energy sources not only met the growth in global electricity demand but also led to a slight decrease in coal and gas consumption.

Solar energy production increased by almost a third in six months compared to the same period in 2024, accounting for 83% of the increase in global electricity demand.

Wind power increased by more than 7%, allowing renewable energy to displace fossil fuels for the first time.

Analysts call it a "decisive turning point" in the development of the global energy system.

China and India made the largest contribution to the global growth of renewable energy. In the first half of the year, China commissioned more "green" generation capacity than the rest of the world combined, which reduced fossil fuel consumption by 2%.

In India, electricity generation from renewable sources exceeded demand growth three times, resulting in a 3.1% reduction in coal use and a 34% reduction in gas use.

At the same time, in the US, electricity demand grew faster than renewable generation, leading to a 17% increase in coal-fired generation.

In the EU, demand remained stable, but due to low winds and drought, which reduced hydropower production, gas and coal consumption also increased by 14% and 1.1%, respectively.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that by the end of the decade, the volume of green energy in the world could more than double, with solar energy accounting for 80% of the new growth.

• In March, it was reported that clear, sunny weather contributed to the growth of solar energy production in some parts of Europe. This has led to electricity prices for long periods around noon fell below zero.