For the first time, all new electricity demand worldwide was met entirely by clean power sources last year. This pivotal shift, detailed in a new report from the United Kingdom-based think tank Ember, prevented a significant increase in fossil fuel generation and marked a potential turning point for the global energy system.
## A Historic First for Clean Energy
## The Fossil Fuel Decline Begins
## The Race Against Rising Temperatures
Ember's analysis shows that in 2025, the world's growing appetite for electricity was satisfied solely by new wind, solar, and other clean energy projects. This milestone halted the previously relentless rise in fossil fuel use for power generation. Global electricity demand increased by 3.8%, a figure entirely absorbed by new clean capacity. As a result, fossil fuel generation actually fell by 0.1%, a small but symbolically crucial decline.
The report's authors describe 2025 as the beginning of the end for coal and gas power. The data indicates a structural decline in fossil fuel use for electricity, a sector responsible for more than a third of global energy-related emissions. This change was driven by a record expansion of renewable energy, particularly solar power, which accounted for the largest share of new clean generation. The trend was strong enough to offset a drop in hydroelectric output caused by widespread droughts.
Despite this progress, the think tank warns the transition is not happening fast enough to meet critical climate goals. While fossil fuel use for electricity has peaked, overall emissions from the power sector remain near record highs. The world is still warming rapidly, and current clean energy growth rates must double to align with the Paris Agreement target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The historic achievement of 2025 proves the capability of clean energy to outpace demand, but it now sets a higher benchmark for the speed required in the years ahead.
