In the second quarter of 2025, global electricity demand exploded by 6.2%. This cumulative change amounted to about 369 terawatt-hours (TWh) more electricity than was produced during the same time period in 2024. This unprecedented growth is indicative of a phenomenal shift towards renewable energy, particularly solar and wind. Renewable energy solar and wind power grew more quickly than the national increase in electricity demand.
Solar generation reached new heights, adding a remarkable 306 TWh. This wave led to an impressive 31% year-on-year growth in demand. The renewable energy generation industry is on a fast track to growth. Renewable solar and wind energy now lead 83% of the surge in global electricity demand, a historic turning point in the energy sector.
Declining Fossil Fuel Use
The move toward renewables together matches up with a world that’s using less fossil fuels. Powerplant coal consumption fell 0.6% in H1 2025, and the use of natural gas at powerplants fell by 0.2%. In all, fossil-fuel generation dropped by 0.3%—the latest sign of a long-term shift towards cleaner energy sources.
China has emerged as a leader in this transition, adding more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined. The nation as a whole managed a 2% reduction in fossil fuel generation. This is an important milestone in the worldwide shift towards less dependence on fossil fuels.
“We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point. Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity. This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.” – Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka
Renewable Energy Growth Outpaces Demand
On this first point, renewables already produce twice as much power as coal, leading the world in new electricity production for the first time last year. In all, renewables produced a record 5,072 TWh compared with coal’s output of 4,896 TWh. This expansion paints the picture of an exciting time for the energy industry at large and a wave of investment in sustainable energy technology.
India always played an outsized role in the renewable growth narrative. Clean energy sources grew at over three times the pace of demand. This remarkable rate brings to light India’s seriousness to make a transition to more sustainable energy options.
Regional Variations in Energy Demand
In the United States, electricity demand increased at a speed much faster than the supply of clean energy can keep pace with. This gap reflects a broader challenge of fulfilling increasing demand with greener sources.
The data from H1 2025 clearly indicates that solar and wind energy are meeting growing electricity needs and driving the decline of fossil fuels as a primary energy source. With every nation around the world reinforcing commitments to clean energy, the outlook for more transformative changes in our energy economy seems bright.