Global solar generation met three-quarters of new power demand in 2025
April 22, 2026
A record surge in solar generation met 75% of global electricity demand growth in 2025, according to the latest Global Electricity Review 2026 from energy think tank Ember. According to the report, renewables accounted for 33.8% of global power generation in 2025, surpassing one-third for the first time and overtaking coal in a milestone moment for the energy transition. The structural shift in the global power energy mix contributed to a small decline in fossil fuel generation of 38TWh. Solar generation rose by 636TWh in 2025, marking the largest increase of any power source on record outside coal’s post-pandemic rebound in 2021. The scale of growth was equivalent to twice the annual electricity demand of the UK. Solar’s upward trajectory has continued to accelerate, with generation increases rising from 331TWh in 2023 to 479TWh in 2024, before reaching a record level in 2025. Global solar generation reached 2,778TWh in 2025, overtaking wind for the first time and cementing its position as the fastest-growing electricity source globally. The expansion in generation was supported by another record year for installations, with 647GW of solar capacity added globally in 2025, an 11% year-on-year increase. According to Ember, this sustained pace of deployment reflects long-term cost reductions, with solar panel prices falling by 90% between 2015 and 2024. Larger economies have also leaned heavily on solar-led clean power growth. China recorded the largest increase in electricity demand over the period, rising by an average of 513TWh annually, with 76% of this growth met by clean sources, led by solar. In the US, clean power supplied 88% of new demand, with solar forming a key component of that expansion. In India, which saw the second-largest increase in demand at 101TWh per year, clean energy met 48% of additional demand, a significant rise from 24% in the previous decade. China and India lead the way A key driver of the global shift was the significant simultaneous decline in fossil generation in China and India. China’s fossil generation fell by 56TWh, while India recorded a decline of 52TWh. The two countries accounted for 42% of global fossil fuel generation in 2025. In China, the fall came despite strong electricity demand growth of 503TWh, as clean generation expanded more rapidly, increasing by 15% to 561TWh. Solar was the primary contributor in the country, rising by 40% to 336TWh. Solar alone met two-thirds of the country’s demand growth. China continued to dominate global capacity deployment, installing 378GWdc of solar in 2025, equivalent to 58% of global additions. In India, a surge in renewable generation coincided with relatively modest demand growth of 49TWh, the third-lowest increase in the past decade. Renewable output rose by a record 24% to 98TWh, driven by strong gains in solar and wind. However, milder weather conditions reduced electricity demand by an estimated 32TWh compared to 2024. Emer...