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Last Update: 09/17/2026 at 11:33 PM EST
Renewables Surge, Emissions Still Rise
Coverage from Vox, OilPrice.com, and others
Renewable power expanded rapidly in 2025, adding roughly 692 GW globally and supplying most new generating capacity, with solar accounting for the largest share.
Renewables reached nearly half of installed global power capacity, while solar and wind covered almost all growth in electricity demand and helped push coal below renewables in global electricity generation. The transition remains uneven: additions are concentrated in China and other major markets, hundreds of millions still lack electricity access or clean cooking, and total energy-related emissions continued to rise as transport, industry, fossil-fuel production and other sectors offset gains in power generation.
Looking Back
121 Day Timeline
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History
09/01/2026
The update quantifies a record 2025 expansion and indicates that renewables have now overtaken coal in global electricity generation. It also sharpens the contrast between rapid clean-power growth and persistent energy-access deficits and record total emissions.
07/18/2026
The story broadened from a general renewable-growth narrative into a more specific picture of solar-led expansion being increasingly supported by batteries, while new evidence highlights that emissions and coal rebounds are still preventing a clean break from fossil fuels. The framing is now less about renewables simply meeting demand growth and more about uneven system-level transition constraints.
All Articles44 articles
Important
Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026 reports renewables reached 33.8 percent of world electricity in 2025, driven by fast-growing solar and battery deployment.
4/28/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Energy Institute, with Ember and partners, reports 2025 energy-related CO2-eq emissions reached a record 41.0 billion metric tons despite renewable generation growth.
7/13/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember reports 2025 solar growth and faster battery storage expansion helped clean power exceed electricity demand growth globally as fossil generation flattened.
4/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
In 2025, the Energy Institute statistical review reports low-carbon electricity supplied all new power growth and data centres accounted for 15% of electricity gains.
6/29/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
The International Energy Agency reported 2025 global energy demand grew 1.3% and electricity demand rose about 3%, driven by electrification, rising EV adoption, and solar-led supply growth.
4/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026 says China added 336 TWh of solar in 2025, lifting global renewables above coal as demand increased.
6/15/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember reports rising solar, wind, and battery-driven power generation in Australia and globally, while transport, agriculture, and land emissions keep broader mitigation needs urgent near 1.5C.
5/17/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember reports that solar and wind generation met all global electricity demand growth in 2025, while fossil generation fell in China and India.
4/22/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember reported that 2025 clean electricity generation rose faster than global electricity demand, with solar-led growth and battery-supported midday shifting driving fossil fuel declines across major regions.
4/21/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
In the US during 2025-2026, solar and battery storage additions accelerate while submersible hydropower projects expand interest in new clean generation sites.
3/29/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember reports renewables replaced coal as the leading global electricity source in 2025 as wind and solar met nearly all electricity-demand growth.
4/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember reported in 2025 that solar and wind electricity growth met global demand increases and reduced fossil-fuel generation worldwide.
4/28/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember research reports solar and wind met most global electricity demand growth in 2025 while fossil generation fell slightly, with battery storage playing a key role as grid upgrades are needed.
4/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
International Renewable Energy Agency data shared with Reuters reports record global renewable capacity in 2025, led by solar growth and approaching COP28 tripling targets.
3/30/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
China, the European Union, and the United States expand solar photovoltaic capacity as costs fall and coal generation shares decline from 2015 levels.
3/29/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
U.S. Energy Information Administration reported January 2026 U.S. renewable generation above a quarter and projected further solar, wind, and battery additions through January 2027.
3/25/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Interesting
Mercom India reported that India added 6.6 GW of rooftop solar capacity during the first half of 2026, with residential installations driving growth nationwide.
8/31/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Renewable energy growth in 2025, led by solar and wind, surpassed coal in global electricity generation and supported power-sector CO2 stabilization.
7/11/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Eurostat reported that EU natural gas and renewable energy supply increased in 2025, while coal and petroleum supply declined and renewables produced 47.2% of electricity.
6/29/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera backed a COP31 call for 35% global electrification by 2035 during the Bonn Climate Change Conference in 2024.
6/10/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Pralhad Joshi announced India reached 40 lakh PM Surya Ghar rooftop solar beneficiaries in June 2026 and aims for over 75 lakh by December 2026.
6/5/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
APSPDCL reported 78,250 rooftop solar installations in Andhra Pradesh by using PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, net metering, and central subsidies.
5/29/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
GlobalData forecasts renewables will exceed 40% of global electricity generation by 2030, driven by cost declines and decarbonization amid geopolitical energy-security concerns.
5/27/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
India added 6.1 GW of wind power in 2025/26, raising installed capacity above 56.1 GW and aiming for 100 GW by 2030.
5/19/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Murat Kurum, COP31 president-designate, says IEA and IRENA analysis underpins the 35 by 35 electrification target aimed for 2035 amid energy-price volatility.
7/10/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
IEA forecasts higher global electricity demand growth in 2026-2027 while LNG disruptions shift some generation toward coal and expand renewable-driven flexibility needs.
7/23/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
WindEurope projects Europe will add 151 GW of wind capacity from 2026 to 2030, with onshore wind accounting for 117 GW.
6/14/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Our World in Data map updates 2024-2025 electricity shares, showing coal and gas persistence in many countries while solar and wind rise rapidly.
6/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
In March 2026, U.S. solar and wind generation surpassed natural gas for the first full month on record, supporting projections of a renewable-dominated 2026 electricity capacity build.
4/30/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Pew Research Center uses Ember and Our World in Data to report wind and solar growth and coal decline in global electricity through 2025.
7/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
The 2026 Energy Progress Report from IEA, IRENA, and partners, launched in New York in 2026, finds renewables exceed 30% of electricity but SDG 7 progress remains too slow by 2030.
7/8/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Tracking SDG7: Energy Progress Report reports 655 million people still lack electricity and around 2 billion lack clean cooking, with gaps concentrated in Africa and rural communities.
7/8/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Pralhad Joshi said PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana will exceed 7.5 million beneficiary households by December as rooftop solar uptake accelerates in India.
6/5/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Mercom India Research reported India added 2.7 GW rooftop solar in Q1 2026, driven primarily by the PM Surya Ghar program.
5/28/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Global Wind Energy Council data report 165 GW of new wind power capacity in 2025, led by China and Asia-Pacific, reaching 1,299 GW worldwide.
4/22/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
IRENA reported that renewables reached 49% of installed global power capacity by end-2025, adding 692 GW led by solar amid fuel-shipping disruptions.
4/1/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
China and the European Union lead rapid solar PV expansion from 2015 to 2025 as module price declines drive cost competitiveness, despite remaining grid and storage constraints.
3/28/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
World Bank approved financing on July 9, 2026 to expand India PM Surya Ghar residential solar rooftops for 10 million households and jobs.
7/9/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Ember Global Electricity Review 2026 reports that solar growth in 2025 met new global electricity demand and limited fossil generation growth, amid U.S. and China energy competition.
6/19/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
IRENA reported renewables provided 85.6% of global capacity expansion in 2025, but non-renewable rebound and insufficient acceleration threaten COP28 2030 targets.
3/31/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
IRENA reported that global solar PV added 510GW in 2025, lifting total renewable capacity to 5,149GW and making renewables 85.6% of new electricity capacity.
3/31/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
In 2025, FERC data reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign indicates solar and wind dominated U.S. generating capacity additions, totaling 88.4% of new capacity.
3/31/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
IRENA reported 692 GW of renewable capacity additions in 2025, led by solar, with Asia dominating growth and Middle East gains tied to Saudi Arabia.
3/31/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
In 2025, global renewable power capacity additions reached 692 GW and generation shares rose, while grid and permitting constraints limited the speed toward sustained fossil decline.
6/28/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General