News

Renewable energies overtook global electricity demand last year, led by solar growth in China, India

Oskaloosa Herald · last updated

Record growth in solar, especially in China and India, was a driving factor for clean energy sources surpassing the world’s strong demand for electricity in 2025, according to a new global power analysis.

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 after midnight Tuesday London time.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmt>36C 2?2=JK6D 6=64EC:4:EJ 52E2 7C@> a`d 4@F?EC:6D[ 2?5 DEF5:65 a_ad 52E2 7@C h` 4@F?EC:6D[ H9:49 E96 7:C> D2JD C6AC6D6?ED hbT @7 8=@32= 56>2?5]k^Am

kAm~G6C2==[ E96 D92C6 @7 C6?6H23=6D — :?4=F5:?8 D@=2C[ H:?5[ 9J5C@A@H6C 2?5 @E96C 4=62? 6?6C8:6D — 9:E >@C6 E92? @?6\E9:C5 @7 E96 H@C=5VD 6=64EC:4:EJ >:I 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? >@56C? 9:DE@CJ =2DE J62C[ 8C@H:?8 bb]gT E@ `_[fb_ E6C2H2EE 9@FCD]k^Am

kAmxE’D AC@>:D:?8 ?6HD 7@C 2 H@C=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^6>:DD:@?D\4=:>2E6\492?86\4@Ab_\7@DD:=\7F6=D\ahhbhaehed726`bb3354f3h6ah_5a2cfQm6>32EE=65 3J 4=:>2E6 492?86 E92E’D 5C:G6? 3J E96 3FC?:?8 @7 7@DD:= 7F6=Dk^2m DF49 2D 4@2=[ @:= 2?5 82D E@ >66E 8C@H:?8 ?665D 7C@> 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9[ C:D:?8 A@AF=2E:@?D 2?5 6=64EC:7:42E:@?] %96 2?2=JD:D :D 2=D@ 6DA64:2==J E:>6=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:C2?\>:55=6\62DE\H2C\6?6C8J\2D:2\49:?2\_d5`hg5e6g54hh5_a_h555777ae26da2Qm2>:5 2 8=@32= 6?6C8J 4C:D:D 6I246C32E65k^2m 3J E96 &]$] H2C :? xC2?]k^Am

kAmx? 2?@E96C 9:DE@C:42= 7:CDE[ 4@2= A@H6C D2H :ED D92C6 72== 36=@H @?6\E9:C5 @7 8=@32= 86?6C2E:@?[ 5C@AA:?8 _]eT E@ eb E6C2H2EE 9@FCD]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 4@>:?8 7C@> 2 A6C:@5 @G6C E96 =2DE 76H 564256D H96C6 ?6H 6=64EC:4:EJ 56>2?5 8C@HE9 >62?E 8C@HE9 :? 7@DD:= 86?6C2E:@?[” D2:5 }:4@=2D uF=89F>[ t>36C D6?:@C 52E2 2?2=JDE 2?5 =625 2FE9@C @7 E96 C6A@CE] “(6’C6 ?@H >@G:?8 :?E@ 2 H@C=5 H96C6 E92E’D ?@ =@?86C E96 42D6]”k^Am

kAmp=D@i “|:=6DE@?6D =:<6 C6?6H23=6D @G6CE2<:?8 4@2= >2C< 2? @442D:@?[ 3FE E96J 5@?’E E6== FD 6G6CJE9:?8 23@FE E96 DE@CJ :? E96 A@H6C D64E@C[” uF=89F> 25565] “%96 3:8 5:776C6?46 E@ `_[ `d J62CD 28@[ H96C6 8@G6C?>6?ED H6C6 A=658:?8 2 3F:=5 @FE @7 C6?6H23=6D[ :D E92E ?@H E9@D6 A=6586D 2C6 >F49 >@C6 36=:6G23=6]”k^Am

k9am$@=2C 2?5 H:?5 @G6C2==k^9am

kAm$@=2C[ H9:49 8C6H b_T :? a_ad[ 2=@?6 >6E E9C66\BF2CE6CD @7 =2DE J62CVD ?6E C:D6 :? 6=64EC:4:EJ 56>2?5 — 2?5 4@>3:?65 H:E9 H:?5 A@H6C 86?6C2E:@?[ >6E hhT @7 :E]k^Am

kAm%9@F89 D@=2C @G6CE@@< H:?5 A@H6C 8=@32==J 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 =2DE J62C[ 2?5 82:?65 @? ?F4=62C A@H6C[ t>36C 6IA64ED E96 EH@ E@ @G6CE2<6 ?F4=62C E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAm|62?H9:=6[ 7@DD:= 7F6= 86?6C2E:@? 6DD6?E:2==J 92=E65[ 2?5 76== 23@FE _]aT :? a_ad[ @C bg E6C2H2EE 9@FCD — >2<:?8 =2DE J62C @?6 @7 @?=J 2 92?57F= @7 J62CD H:E9@FE 2 C:D6 E9:D 46?EFCJ]k^Am

kAmvC@HE9 :? 32EE6CJ DE@C286 244@>A2?:65 E96 2446=6C2E:@? @7 D@=2C 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5j 2D 32EE6CJ 4@DED 76== cdT =2DE J62C[ DE@C286 8C6H ceT :? a_ad] t>36C 6DE:>2E6D E92E 6?@F89 32EE6CJ 42A24:EJ H2D 25565 =2DE J62C E@ D9:7E `cT @7 E96 D@=2C 86?6C2E:@? 25565 7C@> >:552J E@ @E96C 9@FCD @7 E96 52J]k^Am

kAm%92E’D 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 FD:?8 D@=2C 86?6C2E:@? 36J@?5 E96 52JE:>6[ H96? :E 42? 36 4@==64E65]k^Am

kAm$@[ “s6DA:E6 E96 2446=6C2E65 8C@HE9 2?5 6=64EC:4:EJ 56>2?5 E92E 4@>6D H:E9 25565 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 3F:=5 @FE[ @7 962E AF>AD[ :?5FDEC:2= D64E@C 6=64EC:7:42E:@?[” uF=89F> D2:5[ “4=62? A@H6C H:== 36 23=6 E@ DECF4EFC2==J >66E E92E :?4C62D6 :? 56>2?5 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 ?6IE 76H J62CD[ 367@C6 E96? 36?5:?8 E96 4FCG6 2?5 C65F4:?8 E96 2>@F?E @7 7@DD:= 86?6C2E:@? H6’C6 FD:?8] p?5 E92E :D 2 DE2C< 56A2CEFC6 7C@> E96 =2DE 76H 564256D]”k^Am

k9am#68:@?2= :>A24Ek^9am

kAm{2DE J62C 2=D@ >2C<65 E96 7:CDE E:>6 E9:D 46?EFCJ E92E 3@E9 r9:?2 2?5 x?5:2 — 9:DE@C:42==J >2;@C 4@?EC:3FE@CD @7 7@DD:= A@H6C — D2H 564=:?6D :? 7@DD:= 7F6= 86?6C2E:@?] x? r9:?2[ E96 564=:?6 H2D _]hT[ @C de E6C2H2EE 9@FCD[ 2?5 :? x?5:2[ b]bT[ @C de E6C2H2EE 9@FCD]k^Am

kAmx?DE625[ E96JVC6 “?@H 288C6DD:G6=J AFCDF:?8 2 DEC2E68J @7 5:G6CD:7:42E:@? E9C@F89 3C:?8:?8 C6?6H23=6D :?E@ E96 >:I] p?5 E9@D6 2C6 E96 D@FC46D E92E 2C6 E96 3:886DE 5C:G6CD @7 492?86 :? E96:C A@H6C DJDE6> E@52J[” uF=89F> D2:5]k^Am

kAmr9:?2 =65 E96 8=@36 :? D@=2C[ 2?5 :D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 H@C=5VD 8C@HE9 :? 3@E9 D@=2C 42A24:EJ 2?5 86?6C2E:@? =2DE J62C] r9:?2 2=D@ 244@F?E65 7@C >@DE @7 E96 H@C=5VD C:D6 :? H:?5[ H:E9 `bg E6C2H2EE 9@FCD 25565]k^Am

kAmx?5:2[ >62?H9:=6[ D2H C64@C5 :?4C62D6D :? 3@E9 D@=2C 2?5 H:?5 86?6C2E:@?[ 2=@?8 H:E9 DEC@?8 9J5C@A@H6C @FEAFE] x? 2 C6G6CD2= 7C@> 7@DD:= 7F6= 86?6C2E:@? :?4C62D6D — H9:49 7@C J62CD[ H6C6 5C:G6? 3J 2? 64@?@>:4 C63@F?5 7@==@H:?8 E96 A2?56>:4 — x?5:2 2=D@ D2H =@H6C\E92?\2G6C286 56>2?5 8C@HE9]k^Am

kAm%96 &]$] 2?5 tFC@A6 25565 gd E6C2H2EE 9@FCD 2?5 e_ E6C2H2EE 9@FCD[ C6DA64E:G6=J[ @7 D@=2C =2DE J62C 2D 7@DD:= 7F6=D D2H D>2== :?4C62D6D]k^Am

kAm!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>AVD 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D A=2465 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\4=:>2E6\4@2=\C6G:G2=\hcc_72cc25g7_446_67d_3aa6__425g6QmAC6DDFC6 @? :?5FDECJ =6256CD E@ 3@@DE 4@2=[ @:= 2?5 82D AC@5F4E:@?k^2m 2?5 C65F465 DFAA@CE 7@C C6?6H23=6Dj 3FE :? tFC@A6[ 7@DD:= 86?6C2E:@? :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^6FC@A6\C6?6H23=6D\4=:>2E6\492?86\D@=2C\H:?5\7@DD:=\7F6=D\c2e77he3356bad`43ca`_h6`5h5c3bhhQm86?6C2==J EC6?5:?8 5@H?k^2m] %96 2?2=JD:D DF886DED E92E 56DA:E6 677@CED 2EE24<:?8 4=62? 6?6C8J :? E96 &]$][ 2?5 H2C\C6=2E65 492==6?86D[ E96 EC2?D:E:@? 4@?E:?F6D E@ >2<6 9625H2J 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5]k^Am

kAm“pD H6’C6 D66:?8 E96 4@DE @7 @:= 36 :?4C65:3=J G@=2E:=6 C:89E ?@H 3642FD6 @7 E96 H2C[ x E9:?< >@C6 2?5 >@C6 A6@A=6 2C6 =@@<:?8 E@ E92E ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ 2C8F>6?E 2D 2 C62D@? E@ E9:?< 23@FE 9@H H6 6=64EC:7J >@C6 2?5 2?5 9@H H6’C6 23=6 E@ E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 255:E:@?2= D@=2C 2?5 H:?5[ H9:49 5@6D ?@E C6=J @? @E96C 4@F?EC:6D[” D2:5 p=6I:D p3C2>D@?[ 562? @7 E96 r@=F>3:2 &?:G6CD:EJ r=:>2E6 $49@@=[ H9@ H2D ?@E :?G@=G65 :? E96 DEF5J]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 C62==J 4C@DD65 E9:D :>A@CE2?E E9C6D9@=5 E92E 4=62? 6?6C8J ?@H 42? >66E C:D:?8 56>2?5 64@?@>:42==J 2?5 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 C62==J 96=A 255C6DD ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ 4@?46C?D[Q D96 25565] Q%96 ?6IE 492==6?86 :D C62==J EFC?:?8 E92E :?E@ 2 DE625J 564=:?6 @7 7@DD:= 7F6= FD6 2D H6==] $@ :E’D 2 8C62E DE6A :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@?]”k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmp=6I2 $E] y@9? :D 2? pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD 4=:>2E6 C6A@CE6C] u@==@H 96C @? )i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^2=6I20DE;@9?Qmo2=6I20DE;@9?k^2m] #6249 96C 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i2DE];@9?o2A]@C8Qm2DE];@9?o2A]@C8k^2m]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm#625 >@C6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^4=:>2E6\2?5\6?G:C@?>6?EQmp!’D 4=:>2E6 4@G6C286k^2m]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm%96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD’ 4=:>2E6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@G6C286 C646:G6D 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7C@> >F=E:A=6 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@?D] p! :D D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E] u:?5 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^23@FE^DE2?52C5D\7@C\H@C<:?8\H:E9\@FED:56\8C@FAD^QmDE2?52C5Dk^2m 7@C H@C<:?8 H:E9 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D[ 2 =:DE @7 DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 7F?565 4@G6C286 2C62D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^5:D4@G6C^$FAA@CE:?8\p!Qmp!]@C8k^2m]k^Am

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

View full article

here today, more tomorrow

We’ve launched briefing.center with a focus on the press and media.

And we’ve added Citizen Cartwright, a daily quick-read news summary by veteran Washington journalist Linda Cartwright. We’ve also created a new voting rights knowledge center for Citizen Cartwright subscribers. (You can sign up for a dedicated morning email at citizencartwright.com.)

You can sign up here for full access to press and media and Citizen Cartwright on briefing.center.

You can use briefing.center as the center of your information management, or just one of your tools. We’re happy to discuss your information needs.

Sign up