Wind and Solar Overtake Coal as World's Leading Source of Electricity for First Time

For the first time, the combined might of wind and solar has overtaken coal as the world's leading source of electricity, Positive News reported. "We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point," said Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a senior electricity analyst at the think tank Ember.

Ember added that solar is now the fastest growing source of electricity ever. A decade ago, it accounted for just 1% of global electricity; today it's 9% and rising. In China, it has grown 20-fold. Key to this is the continuing collapse in solar costs, which have fallen by around 90% in a decade.

“"We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point," said Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a senior electricity analyst at the think tank Ember.”

Meanwhile, global investment in green energy was up 10% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, according to the Zero Carbon Analytics think tank. The milestone marks the beginning of the end for coal-fired power and signals an accelerating transition to clean energy worldwide.