In a historic first, global electricity generation from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydro overtook coal during the first half of 2025. Renewables produced approximately 5,072 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, edging out coal’s 4,896 TWh and marking a major milestone in the global energy transition.

The shift was driven primarily by growth in China and India. China saw a 2% drop in fossil fuel-based electricity, while boosting solar generation by 43% and wind by 16%. India followed suit with a 31% increase in solar output and a 29% rise in wind, alongside a decrease in coal and gas use. These expansions helped renewables meet all of the 2.6% increase in global electricity demand.

Wind and solar alone added an estimated 403 TWh of electricity worldwide—more than the total increase in demand. Hydropower, while still significant, showed weaker growth due to climatic and regional variability. Meanwhile, other renewable sources like bioenergy and geothermal contributed steady gains.

However, progress was not uniform across all regions. In the United States, coal-fired power actually rose by 17% due to reduced output from wind and hydro sources. European coal and gas use also ticked upward slightly, highlighting the persistent volatility in energy markets and weather-dependent renewables.

Despite these fluctuations, the overall trend signals a pivotal change. Renewables have not only gained scale but are now central to meeting rising global electricity needs. This achievement illustrates that, with the right investment and policy support, clean energy can be the backbone of future power systems.

Still, challenges remain. Aging grid infrastructure, energy storage, intermittency, and slow permitting processes continue to pose barriers to broader renewable integration. Addressing these issues will be critical to ensuring that this breakthrough becomes a sustained transformation.

The surpassing of coal by renewables is both symbolic and practical—a clear indication that the energy transition is accelerating, particularly in high-growth regions. It sets the stage for a future where clean energy is no longer an alternative, but the global standard.

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https://esgnews.com/global-renewable-power-surpasses-coal-for-the-first-time/