Energy Think Tank: China Leads New Energy Expansion: By 2025, Clean Energy Surpasses Coal in Global Power Generation, Reaching a Record High Since 1919

¬ Renewable power generation accounts for 34%, surpassing coal’s 33%

¬ Clean energy meets all new electricity demand; fossil fuel generation sees slight decline

¬ China leads the expansion, dominating new solar and wind capacity additions

For the first time since 1919, renewables have surpassed coal in global power generation, accounting for 34% of total output compared to coal’s 33%. According to Ember’s *Global Electricity Outlook 2026*, published on April 21, the global power market will see its first decline since 2020. The report also notes that coal-fired power generation has declined for the first time since 2020.

This shift confirms trends observed earlier in the year: solar, wind, and other green energy sources generated more power globally than coal for the first time.

The report finds that clean electricity met all growth in global power demand, thereby preventing any increase in fossil fuel generation. By 2025, low-carbon power generation will grow by 887 terawatt-hours (TWh), exceeding the 849 TWh increase in demand.

“Solar alone met 75% of net electricity demand growth. Combined with wind, these two sources nearly satisfied all (99%) of the demand increase,” the report authors stated. “Fossil fuel generation saw zero growth for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020—only the fifth time this century, with actual generation declining slightly by 38 TWh (-0.2%).”

According to the think tank, China continues to widen its lead over other regions in renewable deployment. By 2025, China is expected to account for more than half of global new solar capacity additions and nearly two-thirds of new wind capacity.

Positive Signs of Energy Transition

This symbolic clean energy transition follows a year when renewables achieved record-breaking global milestones. Driven by falling costs and supportive policies, solar, wind, and other green technologies experienced a historic year.

A report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in early April forecasts that global renewable capacity will reach 5,149 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2025, with 692 GW of new installations—the highest ever—representing a year-on-year growth rate of 15.5%. Earlier, BloombergNEF reported in January that global energy transition investment will reach a record $2.3 trillion in 2025, up 8% year-on-year.

This momentum is largely driven by electric mobility, which attracted $89.3 billion in investments for electric vehicle purchases and charging infrastructure deployment. Clean energy ranked second, drawing $69 billion in investment.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, the Iran war has disrupted global oil and gas flows, pushing hydrocarbon prices higher. Some observers anticipate renewed interest in renewables as a result.

Ember cautions that this historic milestone does not signal the end of fossil fuels. “These developments indicate a fundamental shift in the dynamics of power systems: clean electricity is increasingly meeting growing demand. However, this transition remains uneven and far from complete. Fossil fuels still play a significant role, and progress varies across regions,” said Bronwen Worswick, founder and chairman of Ember.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1863379511464138/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the views of the author(s)