Renewables, Led By Solar, Were Largest Source of Energy Supply Growth Globally in 2025
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
The 75th Statistical Review of World Energy shows total energy supply (TES) surpassed 600 EJ in 2025, up 1.7 % from 2024, with renewables delivering the largest share of growth for the first time outside a recession. Solar accounted for 71 % of renewable expansion, achieving 30 % year‑on‑year growth and reaching an 8.7 % share of global power generation, overtaking wind (8.4 %) and nearing nuclear (8.8 %). Despite this, fossil fuels still supplied 86 % of TES and grew in absolute terms, driving a 1.1 % rise in global CO₂ emissions, largely due to U.S. policy and AI data‑center demand. Europe’s renewable surge displaced coal and gas, cutting gas use by 15 % and coal by 38 % since 2021, saving an estimated €72 bn in fossil‑fuel imports. Pakistan’s behind‑meter solar capacity jumped to 23.4 GW from 2.1 GW in 2021, spurred by high electricity prices and falling panel costs.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Solar’s rapid scaling is reshaping power markets faster than policy cycles, turning price spikes into a catalyst for mass‑market clean‑energy adoption.