Renewables Overtake Coal in Global Electricity Mix for First Time in Century

For the first time in 100 years, renewables overtook coal power in the global electricity mix, with renewables generating 33.8% (10,730 TWh) compared to coal's 33.0% (10,476 TWh) in 2025, according to Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026. This milestone represents a significant turning point in the global energy transition, demonstrating that clean energy sources can successfully compete with and surpass traditional fossil fuels at scale.

Key Facts

• Renewables generated 33.8% of global electricity in 2025 (10,730 TWh), surpassing coal's 33.0% (10,476 TWh) Ember
• This marks the first time in a century that renewables have overtaken coal in the global electricity mix Visual Capitalist
• The shift represents a significant milestone in the global energy transition toward clean energy sources

Why This Matters

This milestone represents a significant turning point in the global energy transition, demonstrating that clean energy sources can successfully compete with and surpass traditional fossil fuels at scale. After a century of coal dominance, this achievement shows that the transition to renewable energy is not only possible but already underway. The success of renewables at this scale provides encouragement for continued investment and policy support for clean energy technologies worldwide.

What We Don't Know Yet

While this represents significant progress, continued implementation, scaling, and long-term monitoring will be essential to ensure sustained impact and address any emerging challenges. Questions remain about how quickly this transition can continue in different regions, what infrastructure investments will be needed to support higher renewable penetration, and how energy storage solutions will evolve to manage the intermittent nature of some renewable sources.

Sources: Ember · Visual Capitalist
Published May 31, 2026 · Category: Environment & Climate