Global renewable energy generation exceeded coal-fired generation for the first time in more than 100 years. As solar and wind power expand rapidly, changes are emerging in a global power production structure centered on fossil fuels.

CleanTechnica reported on Oct. 28 that renewables accounted for about 34 percent of global electricity generation last year, surpassing coal for the first time.

An analysis by energy think tank Ember showed renewable power generation in 2025 was 10,730 terawatt hours (TWh), accounting for 33.8 percent of the total. Coal-fired generation was 10,476 TWh, or 33 percent. The combined share of fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas, was about 57 percent, still higher than renewables.

Solar led the expansion in renewable power. Solar generation last year rose by more than 600 TWh from the previous year and met about 75 percent of the increase in global electricity demand. Including wind, renewables accounted for about 90 percent of new power demand.

Generation capacity is also expanding quickly. Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) showed global renewable energy capacity reached 5,149 gigawatts (GW) in 2025. Capacity increased 15.5 percent from a year earlier as 692 GW was added over the year. Renewables accounted for 85.6 percent of newly added generation capacity last year.

Falling costs also supported wider adoption. From 2010 to 2024, the levelised cost of electricity for utility-scale solar fell 90 percent, while onshore wind dropped 70 percent. Advances in battery storage technology are also cited as a factor boosting renewable power use.

Companies are also buying more power. Big tech companies including Google, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft (MS) led the procurement of about 27 GW of new solar and wind generation capacity last year.

Grid connection delays, permitting and fluctuations in output remain challenges. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast that in the United States and China, fossil fuels could meet more of the additional power demand from data centres through 2030 than renewables.

Renewables overtaking coal marks a historic turning point, but analysis shows grid expansion and investment in energy storage systems must be pursued in parallel to ensure a stable power supply.