Electricity demand and supply trends

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity demand and supply trends in 2025 and over the preceding two decades. It details the growth of low-carbon sources, specifically solar and wind, and the relative decline of fossil fuels, while noting the impact of weather and policy on national energy mixes.

• Solar power was the primary driver of new electricity in 2025, increasing by 636 TWh. This growth was 18 times larger than that of gas (+36 TWh) and represented the largest increase for any electricity source ever, with the exception of coal's 2021 rebound. Solar generation reached a record 2,778 TWh in 2025, overtaking wind for the first time.
• Low-carbon electricity sources, including wind, solar, and nuclear, reached 42.6% of total global electricity generation in 2025, up from 33.5% in 2015. Conversely, the share of fossil fuel generation decreased from 66.5% in 2015 to 57.4% in 2025. The emissions intensity of electricity fell by 14% over the decade to 458 gCO2e/kWh in 2025.
• For the first time on record, renewable generation (10,730 TWh) exceeded coal generation (10,476 TWh) in 2025. Coal's share of global electricity generation fell below one-third for the first time, reaching 33.0% in 2025, compared to 39% in 2015.
• China continues to lead the world in both solar and wind generation. In 2025, China's solar generation (1,175 TWh) was more than the OECD combined (1,078 TWh) and three times that of the United States. China also accounted for 68% of the global increase in wind generation in 2025, adding 138 TWh.
• Global nuclear generation reached an all-time high of 2,812 TWh in 2025, growing by 1.3%. However, its share of the global electricity mix declined to 8.9%, the lowest level since the early 1980s, as growth was outpaced by overall demand.
• Hydropower reached a record global output of 4,437 TWh in 2025, but its share of global electricity generation fell to an all-time low of 14%. While China and India saw increases, droughts caused significant output declines in Brazil (-25 TWh), Türkiye (-17 TWh), and the EU (-43 TWh).
• Global gas generation reached a record high of 6,919 TWh in 2025, though its share of the global electricity mix fell to 21.8%, continuing a decline from a 2020 peak of 23.9%. The United States saw the largest decline in gas generation in 2025 (-63 TWh) due to high prices.

APA

Ember (2026). Electricity demand and supply trends. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/electricity-demand-and-supply-trends/

Chicago

Ember. Electricity demand and supply trends. 2026. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/electricity-demand-and-supply-trends/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Electricity demand and supply trends |date=21 April 2026 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/electricity-demand-and-supply-trends/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2026electricity, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Electricity demand and supply trends}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/electricity-demand-and-supply-trends/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }