Solar Surpasses Wind to Lead Renewables as Clean Power Overtakes Coal in 2025

Renewable electricity generation crossed a historic threshold in 2025, surpassing coal’s share of world power for the first time. This shift reflects rapid growth in solar and wind installations worldwide.

- Ember’s annual review of global electricity data showed renewables supplied just under 34% of world power in 2025, while coal fell to 33%. Ember compiled figures from national grid operators, the International Energy Agency, and utility reports, then aggregated annual generation by source. - Solar power exceeded wind to become the largest renewable source worldwide in 2025. Solar’s share of renewable generation rose as photovoltaic capacity added over 300 gigawatts globally, outpacing wind’s ~150 gigawatts of new capacity. - A U.S. district judge issued a temporary halt to the Trump administration’s policy blocking solar and wind projects on federal land. The judge ruled that clean energy advocates are likely to prove the blockade violates federal law, citing risks to roughly 57 gigawatts of planned capacity and $905 million in investments.

The data signal that renewables can now meet a larger share of electricity demand than the most polluting fossil fuel. Solar’s lead over wind highlights the technology’s falling costs and scalability, especially in sunny regions. The legal pause on federal land restrictions could unlock stalled projects, accelerating deployment if the ruling stands.