As 2025 draws to a close, the global energy landscape has reached a historic tipping point that scientists and environmentalists are calling the “beginning of the end” for the fossil fuel era. New data released this week confirms that for the first time in modern history, the combined electricity generated by wind and solar power has surpassed that of coal-fired power plants on a global scale.

The announcement, backed by reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and several independent climate think tanks, marks a monumental shift in how the world powers its cities and industries. While coal has been the backbone of the global electricity grid since the Industrial Revolution, its dominance has finally been eclipsed by the rapid, exponential growth of renewable technologies.

A Year of Unprecedented Growth

The year 2025 has seen a series of broken records in the energy sector. According to the report, the world added a staggering 793 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity this year alone—an 11% increase from 2024. This surge was primarily driven by massive solar installations in Asia and the expansion of offshore wind farms across Europe and the Americas.

“What we are witnessing is not just a gradual transition; it is a full-scale industrial revolution,” said Dr. Helena Vance, a senior energy analyst. “The speed at which solar panels and wind turbines are being deployed has consistently outpaced even the most optimistic forecasts from five years ago.”

The data shows that solar energy remains the fastest-growing source of power, accounting for more than 70% of all new electricity capacity added in 2025. This growth is largely attributed to the plummeting costs of photovoltaic cells and improved battery storage systems, which have made solar power the cheapest form of electricity in most parts of the world.

The Role of the “Green Engine”

While the transition is global, the report highlights China’s role as the primary driver of this shift. Often referred to as the world’s “green industrial engine,” China now produces approximately 80% of the world’s solar cells and 70% of its wind turbines. In 2025, China’s domestic installations of solar and wind power reached levels equivalent to the energy output of nearly 100 nuclear power plants.

However, the trend is also gaining significant momentum in the Global South. In Africa and South Asia, imports of solar panels have soared by over 40% this year. For many developing nations, rooftop solar and localized microgrids are providing a way to “leapfrog” traditional fossil fuel infrastructure, bringing electricity to rural areas that were previously off-the-grid.

The Decline of Coal

In contrast, the coal industry has faced a year of steady decline. While some regions still rely on coal for baseline power, the economic pressure from cheaper renewables has led to the decommissioning of hundreds of aging coal plants across the United States, Europe, and parts of Southeast Asia.

“Coal is no longer the cheapest option, and it’s certainly not the cleanest,” noted Marcus Thorne, a representative for the Global Climate Action Network. “Investors are fleeing fossil fuels in favor of the stability and long-term returns offered by renewables. The market has spoken, and it has chosen green energy.

“The report also points out that the surge in renewables has helped bring the growth of global greenhouse gas emissions to a virtual standstill in 2025, raising hopes that the world might finally reach a “carbon peak” before 2030.

Challenges Remain: Grid Stability and Storage

Despite the celebration, experts warn that the transition is far from complete. The intermittent nature of wind and solar—the fact that the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow—remains a significant hurdle for grid operators.

To address this, 2025 has also been a year of breakthroughs in energy storage. Long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies, such as iron-air batteries and advanced pumped-hydro systems, are beginning to scale up. These systems allow excess energy generated during sunny or windy periods to be stored for days or even weeks, ensuring a steady supply of power regardless of weather conditions.

Furthermore, the expansion of “smart grids” that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to balance demand and supply in real-time has become a top priority for governments. The integration of AI in energy management is expected to be one of the biggest tech trends of 2026, as countries scramble to modernize their aging electrical infrastructures.

A Milestone for the Future

The symbolic victory of renewables over coal serves as a powerful motivator for the upcoming COP30 climate summit. World leaders are expected to use this data to push for even more ambitious targets, including a global commitment to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.

As the world prepares to enter 2026, the message from the scientific community is clear: the transition is inevitable, but the pace must continue to accelerate if the goals of the Paris Agreement are to be met.

“We have proven that we can outproduce the dirtiest fuel on the planet,” Dr. Vance concluded. “Now, the challenge is to sustain this momentum and ensure that the benefits of clean energy are shared by every nation, regardless of their economic status. The 2025 milestone is a victory, but the real work of building a zero-carbon world has only just begun.”