Solar Power Surges Past Wind as Renewables Claim One-Third of Global Electricity
In 2025 solar electricity generation outpaced wind for the first time, pushing renewables to supply roughly a third of the world’s power.
Data from the Statistical Review of World Energy reveal that solar generation jumped 30.1% in 2025, reaching 2,811 TWh and overtaking wind, which grew 8.2% to 2,714 TWh. Combined, solar and wind supplied 5,525 TWh, or 17.2% of worldwide electricity, while hydroelectricity stayed the biggest renewable source at 4,479 TWh. China dominated both solar (1,173 TWh) and wind (1,128 TWh) output, with the United States, India, Japan and Germany also contributing notable shares.
Smaller renewables such as geothermal and biomass added 745 TWh, growing modestly. Biofuel use remained flat overall, though ethanol rose 7% and biodiesel fell 7%. Although renewables now provide about one-third of global electricity, total energy demand grew faster, meaning fossil fuels have not yet begun to decline.
Why it matters
Understanding renewable growth versus fossil fuel use shows how quickly the energy transition is progressing and its limits.
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