In the first half of 2025, the global energy landscape witnessed a pivotal moment as clean energy sources began to outpace increasing power demand. According to Ember, an independent research organization focused on clean energy, this development could signify a crucial shift in how energy is produced and consumed worldwide.
Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a Senior Electricity Analyst at Ember, explained to Newsweek, “Clean sources grew more than demand and therefore they displaced some fossil fuels.” Until now, clean energy in many areas has largely been an addition to existing power supplies, with fossil fuels and renewables both being consumed as demand surged. However, this trend has started to change.
Wiatros-Motyka described the current situation as “the first signs of a crucial turning point” where clean energy is not only keeping pace with demand growth but also displacing fossil fuels in significant ways. For the first time, renewable energy output has overtaken coal generation on a global scale, marking a historic shift in the energy production dynamics.
Solar energy played a key role in this change, accounting for over 80 percent of the new electricity demand during this period, as deployment rates soared and costs for solar technology declined further.
Analysis by Ember revealed a reduction in fossil fuel generation in both China and India. China, known as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has also emerged as the leading nation in clean energy advancements. The country added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined, leading to a 2 percent decline in fossil fuel generation from the previous year.
In India, renewable energy sources expanded at a pace more than three times that of the nation’s overall power demand growth in the first six months of 2025.
Conversely, in the United States and the European Union, clean energy growth did not keep up with demand, causing a slight rise in fossil fuel production. The report detailed how the EU relied more on natural gas and coal amid declining outputs from wind and hydroelectric sources.
Wiatros-Motyka pointed out that “emerging markets are leading the way at the moment,” showcasing the varying progress across different regions.
While Ember’s report primarily focuses on the electricity sector, Wiatros-Motyka acknowledged that fossil fuels still dominate other energy sectors such as transportation and industry. Nevertheless, she emphasized the growing importance of electrification in overall energy consumption, driven by the rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, and battery storage solutions.
Sam Kimmins, Director of Energy at the Climate Group, noted in an email to Newsweek that Ember’s findings represent a significant milestone regarding clean energy economics. He stated, “Their purchasing power and influence is re-making the energy system.” Kimmins also cautioned that governments could risk losing out to more competitive markets if they do not act quickly to enhance access to renewables.
Brendan Pierpont, who oversees electricity modeling at Energy Innovation, echoed the sentiment that the global ascent of wind and solar energy indicates their status as the most cost-effective sources of new electricity. He remarked, “Global renewable energy deployment keeps exceeding our expectations,” highlighting that actual outcomes often surpass projections from major monitoring bodies like the International Energy Agency.
As costs for complementary resources such as energy storage continue to decline, integrating renewable energy into grid systems is becoming increasingly feasible.
Mark Jacobson, a clean energy authority and professor at Stanford University, characterized Ember’s research as encouraging but expressed caution about declaring a definitive turning point in the energy transition. He stated, “I am not quite ready to declare a turning point until I see a sustained trend of fossil fuel use continuing to drop while renewables rise over a two-year period.”
Jacobson also noted the potential for further reductions in electricity demand through increased adoption of rooftop solar technologies and energy efficiency improvements. He used California and Texas as examples of states successfully implementing energy efficiency measures; Californians, on average, consume 40 percent less electricity than Texans.
He expressed hope that the U.S. could replicate China’s successes in reducing fossil generation if it embraced a more ambitious renewable energy agenda. However, Jacobson criticized current policy directions under the Trump administration for fostering increased reliance on fossil fuels, potentially hindering global progress.
In summary, Wiatros-Motyka asserted that the clean energy transition now seems “unstoppable,” predicting a continued trend of fossil fuel displacement. “More than half the world’s economies are already past the peak of fossil fuels,” she concluded, emphasizing the inevitability of this transformation in the energy sector.
