Renewables, Led By Solar, Were Largest Source of Energy Supply Growth Globally in 2025
cleantechnica.com Jul 13, 2026

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.