Global renewable energy has, for the first time, grown fast enough to meet all the increase in worldwide electricity demand in 2025, marking a major milestone in the shift toward cleaner power.
Strong expansion in solar and wind energy ensured that new electricity needs were fully covered by clean sources, limiting the need for additional fossil fuel generation. Solar power led the growth, contributing the largest share of new electricity output globally.
China remained the biggest driver of renewable expansion, adding large amounts of solar capacity. India also played a key role, with rapid growth in both solar and wind power. This helped reduce reliance on fossil fuels in its electricity mix.
Clean energy generation rose more than the increase in global electricity demand during the year. As a result, fossil fuel-based power generation stayed largely flat, a rare trend in recent decades. Coal’s share in global electricity also declined as renewables expanded.
In India, renewable generation grew faster than demand, leading to lower fossil fuel use in power production. Experts say this reflects a clear transition toward cleaner energy systems in major developing economies.