Global electricity generation reached 32,202 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2025, with renewables accounting for approximately 33.4% of the total. While hydropower remains the largest renewable contributor at 4,479 TWh, its growth has stalled, increasing by just 0.4% over the year. In contrast, solar generation climbed to 2,811 TWh, edging out wind, which produced 2,714 TWh. This shift marks a dramatic acceleration for solar, which produced less than a third of wind's output as recently as 2015.
Solar Power Overtakes Wind in Global Electricity Milestone
For the first time in history, solar energy has surpassed wind as a primary source of global electricity generation. According to the latest Statistical Review of World Energy, solar output surged by 30.1% in 2025, cementing its status as the fastest-growing component of the world’s renewable power infrastructure.
The Shift in Global Energy Dynamics
China continues to dominate the transition, accounting for nearly 42% of global solar generation in 2025. The United States, India, Japan, and Germany trail in capacity, though they maintain significant growth rates. Despite this rapid expansion, the data highlights a persistent challenge: total global energy demand is rising faster than the supply provided by renewables. In 2025, renewable energy supply increased by 3.2 exajoules, while total global energy demand spiked by approximately 8.1 exajoules. Consequently, solar and wind are currently augmenting the existing energy system rather than displacing fossil fuel consumption, which continues to rise alongside green alternatives.
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