Renewables overtake coal: A milestone moment ?

For the first time, global renewables have overtaken coal. It is a messy picture, but a milestone to celebrate.

The Turning Point

New data from energy think-tank Ember marks the first half of 2025 as a historic shift. In this six months, wind and solar together generated more electricity worldwide than coal.

Solar power grew by over 30 percent from last year; wind by 8 percent. Together, they met over four-fifths of new global demand.

This is a remarkable reversal after decades where coal was cheap, entrenched, and dominant.

For renewables to step past coal, even for half a year, signals real momentum in the energy transition.

A Mixed Picture

But global averages mask large regional differences.

In the EU and U.S., recent demand growth temporarily outpaced renewables, nudging up fossil fuel use. In Asia, meanwhile, China and India are expanding renewables at scale but also remain reliant on legacy coal fleets.

Progress is uneven. Yes the world is moving in the same direction, but not in lockstep.

The Coal Truth

The nuance matters. China commissioned a record 21 GW of new coal power in 2025, the most since 2016. India is keeping gas and diesel plants active.

Yet both countries are building renewables at a scale that dwarfs these fossil additions. But they are commissioning hundreds of gigawatts annually.

In the U.S., fossil fuels have had a short-term boost thanks to “drill baby drill,” but the overall balance is shifting.

Fossils aren’t vanishing yet, but for once, the good news outweighs the bad.

Why It Matters

It’s easy to point to new coal plants in China or gas deals in India as signs of stalled progress. But these fossil projects are now marginal compared to clean energy build-out. Renewables are not only meeting new demand; they are starting to push fossil generation into decline.

The symbolism is powerful. But underneath, the structural change is what truly counts.

The climate fight is not over, and emissions are still too high.

But milestones matter.

They show that political choices, innovation, and sheer scale are bending the curve.

In a news cycle inclined to despair, it’s worth pausing to recognise when the balance tips, even briefly, towards a cleaner, safer future.

Yours renewably,

Adam S