renewable energy surpasses coal as the main source of electricity in the world

"Renewable energy, including solar and wind power, overtakes coal as the main source of electricity around the world as fossil fuels fall slightly behind. In the first half of 2025, solar and wind energy met and exceeded new electricity demand, making these renewable energies produce more power and be used more than coal for the first time. In the insights by the think tank Ember Energy, the report states that solar and wind energy grew faster than demand"

"For the global carbon dioxide emissions, the insights by the think tank Ember Energy state that the electricity generation fell slightly by 12 million tonnes to 6,963 million tonnes in early 2025, possibly because solar and wind power grew faster than electricity demand. Without the increase in solar and wind, emissions would have risen by 236 million tonnes, almost equal to all emissions from Africa during the same period."

Solar and wind power became the primary global electricity source in the first half of 2025 by meeting and exceeding new electricity demand. Solar provided 83% of the increase in generation while wind grew more slowly and reached 9.2% of total renewable production. Nuclear rose about 0.2% and other renewables edged up slightly, while hydropower fell about 0.3% and bioenergy dropped 0.02%. Fossil fuel power generation declined 0.18%, with coal down 0.21% and gas down 0.04%. Electricity-sector CO2 emissions fell by 12 million tonnes to 6,963 million tonnes; without additional solar and wind, emissions would have risen by 236 million tonnes. China and India reduced emissions, while the EU and US saw increases.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine