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Global Green Energy Surge: Solar and Wind Surpass Coal for First Time Ever
For the first time on record, worldwide solar and wind power generation has collectively outpaced electricity demand this year, generating more power than coal, according to a significant new analysis. This marks a pivotal moment in the global energy transition, suggesting a viable path away from fossil fuels even as electricity demand continues to climb.
The report, released Tuesday by energy think tank Ember, reveals that global solar generation saw a record 31% growth in the first half of the year, while wind generation increased by 7.7%. Combined, these renewable sources added over 400 terawatt hours to the grid, exceeding the total increase in global electricity demand during the same period.
Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember and lead author of the study, highlighted the importance of these findings. “They can keep up the pace with growing appetite for electricity worldwide,” Wiatros-Motyka stated, underscoring the potential for renewables to meet escalating demand. While total fossil fuel generation saw a modest dip of less than 1%, Wiatros-Motyka called it “a turning point when we see emissions plateauing,” signaling a shift in the global energy landscape.
Rising electricity demand is driven by a confluence of factors, including economic growth, the proliferation of electric vehicles and data centers, increasing populations in developing countries, and the growing need for cooling as global temperatures rise. Meeting this demand through fossil fuels like coal and gas releases planet-warming gases, contributing to more severe and costly extreme weather events.
China and India Lead the Charge in Green Transition
The report specifically examined four key regions—China, India, the European Union, and the U.S.—which together account for nearly two-thirds of global electricity generation and power sector carbon dioxide emissions.
China emerged as a clear leader, adding more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined in the first six months of the year, while simultaneously reducing its fossil fuel generation by 2%. India also demonstrated impressive progress, with record solar and wind growth surpassing its demand increase, leading to a drop in fossil fuel generation. Emissions in both nations consequently fell.
Michael Gerrard, founder and director of the Columbia University Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, who was not involved in the report, noted the significance of these trends. “It’s often been said by analysts that renewable energy doesn’t really lead to a reduction in fossil fuel use,” Gerrard said. “This report highlights an encouraging step in the opposite direction.”
U.S. and Europe Face Hurdles
In contrast to the leading growth seen in Asia, the U.S. and the European Union experienced increased fossil fuel power generation and emissions. In the U.S., demand growth outpaced the expansion of clean power. The E.U. saw sluggish wind and hydropower generation, which contributed to a reliance on higher coal and gas output.
The U.S. clean energy sector faces particular challenges due to shifts in federal policy. The current administration has moved to terminate Biden-era funding for clean energy projects, repealed regulations underpinning climate action, and halted wind energy developments.
Last week, the administration announced the cancellation of $8 billion in climate-related projects across 16 states, primarily those governed by Democrats. These actions follow broader efforts to lift barriers to coal mining, provide regulatory relief to coal-fired power plants, and dedicate millions of dollars to these polluting industries.
During his address at the United Nations General Assembly last month, the President reiterated his skepticism regarding climate change and criticized renewable energy sources. Experts warn that these efforts to impede clean energy progress could have lasting consequences.
Gerrard pointed out a potential disconnect: “The federal government is greatly increasing the growth of artificial intelligence, which is going to massively increase electricity demand, and they’re also shutting down the cheapest new sources of electricity, wind and solar. That’s going to lead to a gap in supply and demand.”
Despite these domestic headwinds, Amanda Smith, senior scientist at research organization Project Drawdown, remains “very cautiously optimistic that renewables can continue to grow and continue to displace fossil fuels in the U.S.,” though she expressed greater optimism for the global scale. This global momentum suggests that a cleaner energy future is within reach, provided sustained investment and supportive policies.