Renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity in the first half of this year - a historic first, according to new data from the global energy think tank Ember.
Electricity demand is growing around the world but the growth in solar and wind was so strong it met 100% of the extra electricity demand, even helping drive a slight decline in coal and gas use.
However, Ember says the headlines mask a mixed global picture.
Developing countries, especially China, led the clean energy charge but richer nations including the US and EU relied more than before on planet-warming fossil fuels for electricity generation.
Coal, a major contributor to global warming, was still the world's largest individual source of energy generation in 2024, a position it has held for more than 50 years. According to the International Energy Agency, China remains way ahead in clean energy growth, adding more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined. This enabled the growth in renewable generation in China to outpace rising electricity demand and helped reduce its fossil fuel generation by 2%.
India experienced slower electricity demand growth and also added significant new solar and wind capacity, meaning it too cut back on coal and gas.
In contrast, developed nations like the US and EU saw the opposite trend. In the US, electricity demand grew faster than clean energy output, increasing reliance on fossil fuels, while in the EU, months of weak wind and hydropower performance led to a rise in coal and gas generation.
Despite these regional differences, Ember calls this moment a 'crucial turning point'. Ember senior analyst Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka noted it 'marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth'. Solar power delivered the lion's share of growth, meeting 83% of the increase in electricity demand.
Most solar generation (58%) is now in lower-income countries, many of which have seen explosive growth in recent years. This is largely due to significant reductions in costs since 1975, with solar prices plummeting by 99.9%. For example, Pakistan imported solar panels capable of generating 17 gigawatts (GW) in 2024, double from the previous year.
Africa is also experiencing a solar boom. In the past year, panel imports saw a 60% increase, with coal-heavy South Africa leading and Nigeria recently overtaking Egypt with 1.7GW of solar capacity. Many smaller nations in Africa have seen even more remarkable growth.
However, some regions face challenges due to rapid growth in solar energy. For instance, in Afghanistan, the widespread use of solar-powered water pumps is lowering the water table, posing long-term risks to groundwater access.
Countries in the 'sun belt' and 'wind belt' are facing different energy challenges. While sun belt nations can reduce energy costs through solar adoption, wind belt countries like the UK encounter limitations due to higher installation costs and variable wind energy supply.
China continues to dominate the clean tech sector, with its clean tech exports reaching a record $20bn, emphasizing the unparalleled growth and importance of renewable energy in the global market.
