Solar and Wind Power Surge in First Half of 2025, Outpacing Demand
The global energy landscape has witnessed a significant shift in the first half of this year. Solar and wind power generation have surged, outpacing overall electricity demand. However, the picture varies across regions, with some seeing increased fossil fuel use and emissions.
Worldwide, solar generation grew by a record 31% in the first half of the year. Wind generation also saw a notable increase of 7.7%. Together, they generated over 400 terawatt hours, surpassing the global demand increase. This remarkable growth is largely driven by China and India, both of which saw record renewable energy growth and a drop in fossil fuel generation.
China, in particular, added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined, leading to a 2% decrease in its fossil fuel generation. India also witnessed a significant drop in fossil fuel use as solar and wind growth outpaced demand. On a global scale, renewable energies combined generated more power than coal for the first time ever.
Despite these positive trends, the picture is not uniform worldwide. In the U.S., demand growth outpaced clean power generation, resulting in increased fossil fuel use and emissions. Similarly, in the E.U., sluggish wind and hydropower generation led to higher coal and gas use and emissions. Overall, total fossil fuel generation dropped slightly, by less than 1%. As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources, these regional disparities highlight the need for consistent, global efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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