For the first time in history, renewable energies generated more electricity than coal globally during the first half of this year. The milestone, confirmed by the energy research center Ember, marks a new era in the global energy transition.
Although electricity demand is growing on all continents, the expansion of solar and wind energy was so intense that it covered 100% of the increase in consumption and managed to slightly reduce the burning of coal and gas.
However, the outsee remains uneven. While China and India lead the adoption of clean sources, Western industrial powers such as the United States and the European Union have increased their depfinishence on fossil fuels.
China, despite continuing to expand its coal plants, added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined. This progress allowed its growth in clean energies to surpass domestic demand, reducing its apply of fossil fuels by 2%.
The Solar Boom of the Global South
The strongest push comes from low-income countries, already responsible for 58% of the world’s solar generation. The drastic drop in panel costs —99.9% since 1975— has allowed entire regions to electrify with clean energies in just a few years.
Pakistan, for example, doubled its solar panel imports in 2024, reaching a generation capacity equivalent to a third of its entire electrical grid. Africa is also experiencing a boom: South Africa leads the transition, followed by Nigeria, which already generates enough solar energy to supply nearly two million European homes.
In the northern part of the continent, countries like Algeria, Zambia, and Botswana have multiplied their solar panel imports in the last twelve months. The speed of modify demonstrates that clean energy is no longer a technological luxury but a tool for sustainable development.
However, this transformation brings challenges. In Afghanistan, the massive apply of solar pumps has lowered the water table, compromising access to water. Experts warn that without sustainable management, the benefits of solar energy could lead to new environmental imbalances.
The United States and Europe, Going Against the Trfinish
In contrast, the United States and the European Union face a temporary setback. The low performance of wind and hydroelectric energy, coupled with increased electricity demand, forced the reactivation of coal and gas plants.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) revised its renewable growth forecast for the U.S. downward, reducing it by half compared to initial projections. Energy policies and higher interest rates have also increased the cost of developing new wind farms.
Unlike solar energy, whose costs have plummeted, wind turbines have only reduced their prices by a third in the last decade. Additionally, prolonged periods without wind —especially in winter— remain a technical and financial challenge.
Meanwhile, China is consolidating its position as an undisputed power in clean technologies. In August 2025 alone, it exported more than 20 billion dollars in electric vehicles, batteries, and solar panels, doubling the value of its sales compared to the previous year.
From Mills to Panels: A Brief History of Renewable Energies
The history of renewable energies dates back centuries. Before coal and oil, humans already harnessed wind, water, and sun to generate relocatement and heat. Windmills, applyd since the Middle Ages to grind grain, were the precursors to today’s wind turbines.
In the 19th century, the development of hydroelectric energy transformed the industrial landscape of Europe and America, becoming the first major clean electricity source. Decades later, in 1954, American scientists created the first silicon solar cell, marking the launchning of modern photovoltaic energy.
The real push came in the 1970s, following the oil crisis. Governments and scientists launched investing in alternative sources to reduce depfinishence on fossil fuels. With the new century, the combination of technological innovation and climate urgency accelerated the modify.
Today, solar and wind dominate the global energy expansion. Improvements in storage, smart grids, and electric mobility have turned what was once an ecological utopia into industrial reality. For the first time, the planet generates more clean energy than polluting energy.
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