China drives historic global energy pivot as renewables overtake coal

For the first time on record, global renewable electricity generation exceeded coal in the first half of 2025, marking a major shift mainly due to the massive scale of clean energy deployment in China, according to analysis from global energy think tank Ember.

The analysis, released on Tuesday, confirms China's role as the primary driver of the transition, responsible for more solar and wind capacity additions than the rest of the world combined. In the first six months of the year, China accounted for 55 percent of global solar generation growth and an impressive 82 percent of the global increase in wind generation.

This large-scale deployment enabled China to reach an important milestone: satisfying all its internal electricity demand growth entirely with clean energy. This achievement prompted a structural shift away from fossil fuels, with total fossil fuel generation in the country decreasing by 2 percent.

This shift had an immediate worldwide effect. China experienced the largest absolute drop in power sector carbon dioxide emissions, decreasing by 46 tonnes. This swift decarbonization helped stabilize global emissions, balancing out increases in emissions seen in major developed countries like the U.S. and the European Union.

China's commitment is long-term. By early 2025, its combined wind and solar capacity officially surpassed its total coal capacity, ensuring a future shift to clean energy. This strategic pledge, strengthened by rapid growth and innovation, is establishing the market and technological conditions necessary for a global reduction in fossil fuel use.