Global Solar Power Jumps 31 pc in First Half of 2025

Representational photo

Solar power has surged by a record 31 percent in the first six months of 2025, driving global renewable electricity generation past coal for the first time, according to energy analysts. Wind power also grew by 7.7 percent, while coal declined by 0.6 percent and natural gas edged down by 0.2 percent, highlighting a historic shift in the global energy mix.

Renewables now account for 34.3 percent of global electricity generation, compared with 33.1 percent from coal and 23 percent from gas. The milestone reflects the accelerating transition away from fossil fuels, which remain the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

“This is a crucial turning point,” said Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember. “Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s rising electricity demand. Clean power is beginning to keep pace with global energy needs.”

The growth in solar energy has been particularly striking, accounting for roughly 80 percent of the increase in global renewable energy capacity over the past five years. Analysts note that this surge has been driven by falling costs, technological improvements, and widespread deployment in countries such as China, India, and across Europe.

At the United Nations climate summit in Dubai in 2023, nations committed to accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels, with a goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, the International Energy Agency (IEA) now warns that this target is likely to be missed.

Previously, the IEA forecasted that 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity would be added by 2030. The latest estimate, however, predicts only a 4,600-GW increase—about 2.6 times the 2022 level—due to policy shifts, regulatory changes, and market uncertainty since October 2024.

In the United States, the phase-out of renewable energy tax credits and stricter regulatory controls under the Trump administration have significantly dampened growth projections, reducing the expected capacity nearly by half. President Trump has prioritised oil and gas production and criticised renewable energy, calling it expensive and ineffective.

China, meanwhile, remains the global leader in renewable energy expansion. Although growth expectations have been tempered by the country’s switch from fixed tariffs to auction-based pricing for projects, China is still expected to meet its 2035 solar and wind targets five years ahead of schedule.

Other regions show more optimistic trends. India is on track to achieve its 2030 renewable energy goals, with capacity projected to rise 2.5 times within five years, positioning it as the second-largest growth market. The Middle East and North Africa are also seeing a 25 percent upward revision in renewable capacity forecasts. In Europe, growth projections have been revised higher for Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

While offshore wind power forecasts have been lowered due to policy changes in key countries, particularly the United States, analysts stress that solar and onshore wind will continue to dominate the global renewable expansion.

The continued surge in renewables demonstrates a clear shift in the global energy landscape, signalling progress in reducing dependency on fossil fuels and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, experts caution that political and regulatory uncertainties in major markets such as the US and China could slow the pace of change, potentially jeopardising the world’s 2030 climate ambitions.