More electricity from the sun and wind than from coal. This is the first such situation in the world

In the first half of 2025, for the first time, solar and wind farms produced more energy in the world than coal-fired power plants, the Guardian reported on Tuesday, citing a report by the British think tank Ember dealing with climate issues.

According to published data, the strong increase in the share of solar energy, but also wind energy, has led to the share of renewable energy in global electricity generation increasing to 34.3%, and the share of coal falling to 33.1%.

The report states that in the first half of 2025, global demand for electricity increased by 2.6%. This increase was more than covered by energy from solar farms, which saw production increase by 31%. and energy from wind farms, which increased by 7.7%. However, as researchers emphasize, solar energy alone covered 83%. this growth. At the same time, energy production from fossil sources decreased slightly – by 0.3%.

The think tank reported that 55% of the global increase in solar energy production is due to China, followed by the USA – 14 percent, European Union countries – 12 percent, India – 5.6 percent. and Brazil – 3.2 percent.

Energy production from fossil fuels has decreased, among others. in China and India, where the growth in demand for energy from renewable sources has exceeded the growth in demand. An increase in energy from fossil sources was recorded in the US and the EU, with a decline in the production of wind, hydropower and bioenergy in EU countries.

Global CO2 emissions from the energy sector decreased slightly by 0.2% in the first half of 2025.

“We are observing the first signs of a breakthrough moment,” commented Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, author of the report and electricity analyst at Ember.

“Solar and wind energy are now developing fast enough to meet the growing demand for electricity worldwide. This is the beginning of a change in which clean energy keeps pace with the growth in demand,” the expert emphasized.

The report prepared by Ember is based on monthly electricity data from 88 countries, which account for 93%. world energy demand. Additionally, it analyzes in detail the four economies with the highest CO2 emissions (China, India, the US and the EU), which together account for 63%. world electricity production and 64 percent global CO2 emissions from the energy sector.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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