Environment & Energy

Caribbeans

(1,299 posts) Wed Apr 22, 2026, 02:50 AM Wednesday

'Important threshold crossed' as renewables meet world's energy demands and fossil power drops

A solar farm operates with wind turbines in the background in Datong, China, Friday, March 13, 2026.

‘Important threshold crossed’ as renewables meet world’s energy demands and fossil power drops

euronews.com | Angela Symons with AP | 21/04/2026

Countries continue to turn to renewables for national security despite Trump's attacks on wind and solar.

Clean energy generation surpassed the global rise in electricity demand in 2025, pushing fossil fuel power into reverse for the first time ever, according to a new report.

Record growth in solar, especially in China and India, was a driving factor.

Clean power generation grew 887 terawatt hours last year, exceeding overall global electricity demand growth of 849 terawatt hours, according to a report by energy think tank Ember, released today (Tuesday 21 April).

Ember analyses electricity data from 215 countries, and studied 2025 data for 91 countries, which the firm says represents 93 per cent of global demand.

Overall, the share of renewables – including solar, wind, hydropower and other clean energies – hit more than one-third of the world's electricity mix for the first time in modern history last year, growing 33.8 per cent to 10,730 terawatt hours...more
https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/21/important-threshold-crossed-as-renewables-meet-worlds-energy-demands-and-fossil-power-drop

"junk"?
Facts say "Nope"

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

'Important threshold crossed' as renewables meet world's energy demands and fossil power drops (Original Post) Caribbeans Wednesday OP

Not in this country- Trump has made it his mission to shut down renewable energy development Redleg Wednesday #1

It's kind of like in the early 1900's when we were converting to oil Finishline42 Wednesday #3

Good point. Renewables change the balance of power in more ways than one. thought crime 7 hrs ago #4

Global energy demand growth was met by diverse range of sources in 2025, led by solar and then gas OKIsItJustMe Wednesday #2

Redleg

(6,994 posts)

1. Not in this country- Trump has made it his mission to shut down renewable energy development

Reply to Caribbeans (Original post)

Wed Apr 22, 2026, 09:31 AM

Wednesday

We ought to be leading the worlds in this but have ceded it to China.

Finishline42

(1,165 posts)

3. It's kind of like in the early 1900's when we were converting to oil

Reply to Redleg (Reply #1)

Wed Apr 22, 2026, 10:36 PM

Wednesday

England was hanging on to coal.

While Trump has tried to shut down all the wind and solar he can - other parts of the world are buying those cheap solar panels - Africa for one.

thought crime

(1,700 posts)

4. Good point. Renewables change the balance of power in more ways than one.

Reply to Finishline42 (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 23, 2026, 09:57 PM

7 hrs ago

Combined with an envisioned "Hydrogen Economy" now actually emerging in Europe and Eastern Asia, many countries could become energy powerhouses by using renewable energy to produce hydrogen for export.

OKIsItJustMe

(21,891 posts)

2. Global energy demand growth was met by diverse range of sources in 2025, led by solar and then gas

Reply to Caribbeans (Original post)

Wed Apr 22, 2026, 12:49 PM

Wednesday

https://www.iea.org/news/global-energy-demand-growth-was-met-by-diverse-range-of-sources-in-2025-led-by-solar-and-then-gas

News
20 April 2026

The world’s energy demand increased more slowly last year against a complex economic and geopolitical backdrop, but electricity use continued to rise strongly, latest IEA analysis shows

…

The report shows that overall global energy demand growth slowed to 1.3% in 2025, slightly below the previous decade’s average of 1.4% and significantly lower than in 2024. The main reasons for this slowdown were lower global economic growth, less extreme temperatures in some regions, and rapid uptake of more efficient technologies.

At the same time, global electricity demand increased by around 3% – well over twice the rate of overall energy demand growth. Although electricity demand growth was slower than in 2024, reflecting factors such as lower cooling demand in India and Southeast Asia amid less severe heatwaves, it remained above the average of the past decade. Electricity demand growth was driven by multiple sectors across buildings and industry – and boosted by fast-growing demand from electric vehicles and data centres.

All major fuels and technologies expanded to meet rising demand, but at very different rates. Solar PV was the single largest contributor to growth in global energy supply in 2025, accounting for more than 25% of the increase – the first time on record that a modern renewable source has led global primary energy supply growth. Natural gas took the next largest share, at 17%, reflecting its role in power generation in many countries. Overall, renewable sources and nuclear met nearly 60% of all growth in energy demand – and power generation from these sources exceeded total growth in electricity demand.

…

https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2026

Global Energy Review 2026

About this report
This edition of the Global Energy Review provides the first full assessment of trends across the entire energy sector in 2025, with data for all fuels and technologies, all regions and major countries, and energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The report covers estimates of energy demand by region and by source and fuel in 2025; developments in electricity demand and supply; deployment of selected energy technologies; and estimates of energy-related CO2 emissions. The report also assesses trends in energy intensity and analyses the impact of factors, such as weather effects, on energy demand and emissions.

…

Reply to this discussion