China Leads Global Shift as Renewables Surpass Coal in First Half 2025

In the first half of 2025, global renewable electricity generation, led predominantly by China, surpassed coal for the first time on record, marking a historic shift in the global energy landscape. China accounted for the majority of the increase in solar and wind capacity, meeting all its internal electricity demand growth through clean energy and reducing fossil fuel generation by 2 percent, which helped stabilize global carbon dioxide emissions despite rises in some developed nations like the US and EU. While solar power surged by 31 percent and wind by 7.7 percent globally, some developed countries lagged behind, with the US and EU increasing their reliance on fossil fuels due to rising electricity demand and unfavorable weather conditions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasted that global renewable capacity growth by 2030 would fall short of previous targets, partly due to significant downward revisions in the US but upgrades for India and the Middle East. Despite these regional disparities, the overall trend signifies the beginning of a crucial turning point where clean power is starting to keep pace with global electricity demand growth. This milestone underscores the importance of continued policy support and innovation to maintain momentum toward a global energy transition.