Solar Supplied Three‑Quarters of 2025’s New Electricity Demand as Low‑Emissions Met All Growth

Context Ember, an energy think tank, compiled hourly generation figures from national grid operators and the International Energy Agency to track yearly changes in electricity supply.

Key Facts In 2025 the world added 849 terawatt‑hours of electricity demand, a 2.8 percent rise—the smallest annual increase in a decade. Low‑emission sources—solar, wind, hydro, nuclear and biofuels—provided the full 849 TWh increase, leaving no net growth for coal or gas. Solar power accounted for about three‑quarters of that new supply, delivering roughly 637 TWh. Wind covered most of the remainder, while hydro, nuclear and biofuels contributed the small balance. Ember’s senior analyst Nicolas Fulghum said clean power deployment is now high enough to structurally meet demand growth and will soon cover all new electricity demand while pushing fossil generation down.

What It Means The result marks the first time clean energy has absorbed an entire year’s demand increase, suggesting a turning point for fossil‑fuel reliance in the power sector. Ember projects that by 2035 fossil fuels could lose 10‑20 percentage points of their share as renewables continue to expand. Analysts caution that the trend must be tested under extreme weather peaks and that grid flexibility, storage and transmission upgrades will be crucial to maintain reliability as fossil generation declines.

What to Watch Next Watch for 2026 demand growth, policy incentives for storage, and whether emerging economies can sustain the renewable‑led expansion without reverting to fossil peaks.