Energy / North America
Global Electricity Transition Insights from Ember's 2026 Review
Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026 highlights a significant shift in the power sector, with clean power sources meeting all growth in global electricity demand in 2025. This transition resulted in a decline in fossil fuel generation, particularly in major markets like China and India. Solar energy emerged as the dominant force, achieving record growth rates and contributing significantly to the overall electricity mix.
Source material: Global Electricity Review 2026: Asia-Pacific Session
Summary
Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026 highlights a significant shift in the power sector, with clean power sources meeting all growth in global electricity demand in 2025. This transition resulted in a decline in fossil fuel generation, particularly in major markets like China and India. Solar energy emerged as the dominant force, achieving record growth rates and contributing significantly to the overall electricity mix.
In 2025, renewables accounted for 33.8% of the global electricity mix, surpassing coal for the first time in over a century. This milestone reflects a broader trend of decoupling fossil generation from electricity demand growth, driven by rapid advancements in solar and wind technologies. Despite these gains, challenges remain, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where coal still dominates.
Investment in renewable energy is crucial for sustaining this transition, yet many countries face barriers related to infrastructure and policy frameworks. The need for improved grid systems and market designs is evident, as existing structures struggle to accommodate the rapid increase in renewable generation. Additionally, the importance of a just transition, ensuring that communities benefit from these changes, cannot be overlooked.
Geopolitical instability has prompted a reevaluation of energy security, leading to increased interest in renewable investments. Long-term investors are shifting their focus towards sustainable energy solutions, recognizing the economic advantages of renewables over fossil fuels. However, the transition must be managed carefully to address social and economic disruptions.
Perspectives
Analysis of the Global Electricity Review 2026 highlights significant trends and challenges in the renewable energy sector.
Proponents of Renewable Energy
- Highlight the significant growth of solar and wind energy in meeting global electricity demand
- Emphasize the need for investment in renewable technologies to ensure a sustainable energy future
Skeptics of Rapid Transition
- Point out the challenges related to infrastructure and policy frameworks that hinder renewable energy adoption
Neutral / Shared
- Acknowledge the geopolitical factors influencing energy security and investment strategies
- Recognize the importance of a just transition to ensure equitable access to renewable energy
Metrics
growth
2.8%
electricity demand growth in 2025
This growth aligns with the 10-year average, indicating a stable demand trend
electricity demand growth was robust, rising by 2.8%
other
0.2%
decline in fossil generation
This marks a significant shift in energy production dynamics
fossil generation recorded a small fall of 0.2%
growth
30%
solar energy growth rate in 2025
This growth rate highlights solar's increasing dominance in the energy sector
solar generation recorded the highest growth rate in eight years at 30 percent in 2025.
other
0.9%
decline in fossil generation in China
This marks a significant shift in China's energy landscape
In China, we saw fall of 56 terad hours or 0.9% decline.
other
94%
solar power covering rise in demand in China
This demonstrates solar's critical role in meeting energy needs
solar power alone covered 94% of the rise in demand in China.
other
81%
increase in wind and solar since 2000
This statistic underscores the rapid growth of renewables over the last decade
81% of the increase in wind and solar since 2000 has occurred in just the last 10 years.
other
8.7%
solar's contribution to global electricity generation
This percentage indicates solar's growing role in the energy mix
Solar generated 8.7% of electricity generated globally in 2025.
other
$70 per kilowatt hour USD/kWh
battery storage price in 2025
Lower prices facilitate wider adoption of battery storage technologies
battery back prices for stationary storage applications fell to a new record low of $70 per kilowatt hour in 2025.
Key entities
Timeline highlights
00:00–05:00
Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026 highlights a significant shift in the power sector, with clean power sources meeting all growth in global electricity demand in 2025. This transition resulted in a decline in fossil fuel generation, particularly in major markets like China and India.
- Embers Global Electricity Review 2026 identifies major shifts in the power sector, influenced by geopolitical tensions and increased electricity demand from sectors such as artificial intelligence
- In 2025, clean power sources accounted for all growth in global electricity demand, resulting in a complete halt and even a decline in fossil fuel generation, particularly in major markets like China and India
- Solar energy led the charge, achieving its highest growth rate in eight years and contributing to three-quarters of the increase in electricity demand
- Record levels of battery storage deployment supported the expansion of solar energy, marking a crucial step in the transition to renewable energy
- For the first time in over a century, renewable energy sources surpassed coal generation, highlighting a significant transformation in the global energy landscape
05:00–10:00
In 2025, clean power sources, particularly solar, accounted for all growth in global electricity demand, leading to a decline in fossil fuel generation in major markets. This shift indicates a significant transition in the global power sector, with solar energy achieving a record growth rate of 30%.
- In 2025, clean power sources, especially solar, accounted for all growth in global electricity demand, resulting in a decline in fossil fuel generation, notably in China and India
- Solar energy achieved a record growth rate of 30%, contributing to three-quarters of the increase in electricity demand, marking its highest growth percentage in eight years
- China recorded its first decline in fossil generation since 2015, with a 0.9% drop, while India experienced a sharper decline of 3.3%, despite rising electricity demand, indicating a shift in energy dynamics
- Indias rapid renewable deployment, particularly in solar, is surpassing historical trends set by China, suggesting that Indias coal generation may peak at less than a third of Chinas peak level in 2024
- The data reveals a decoupling of fossil generation from electricity demand growth, with 81% of the increase in wind and solar occurring in the last decade, highlighting a significant transition in the global power sector
10:00–15:00
In 2025, solar power significantly outpaced gas generation, contributing 8.7% to global electricity generation. The deployment of battery storage reached record levels, enabling better integration of solar energy into the grid.
- In 2025, solar power generated 636 terawatt hours more than in 2024, outpacing gas generation increases by a factor of 18
- Solar energy contributed 8.7% to global electricity generation, with peak midday output reaching around 25% of global demand in May, and some regions exceeding 50% during peak hours
- Battery storage deployment hit a record high, with prices falling to $70 per kilowatt hour, facilitating improved integration of solar energy into the grid
- Nearly 250 gigawatts of new battery capacity were installed in 2025, enabling 14% of new daily solar generation to be utilized outside peak sunlight hours
- Chile and Australia emerged as leaders in battery storage, with systems capable of absorbing over 50% of new solar generation, leading to lower power prices and enhanced energy security
15:00–20:00
In 2025, renewables accounted for 33.8% of the global electricity mix, surpassing coal for the first time in over a century. This transition marks a significant milestone in the global energy landscape, with notable advancements in clean energy adoption across various regions.
- In 2025, renewables accounted for 33.8% of the global electricity mix, surpassing coal for the first time in over a century, while coals share fell to 33.0%
- This transition signifies a major milestone in the global energy landscape, with renewables now leading in every region except Asia, where coal remains predominant
- Africa achieved a notable breakthrough in 2025 by generating more electricity from renewables than from coal, reflecting significant advancements in clean energy adoption
- Although Asia continues to rely heavily on coal, its share has decreased by 10 percentage points since 2013, indicating a gradual shift towards cleaner energy sources
- The rapid growth of solar and wind energy, coupled with improvements in battery storage, is facilitating the transition to a more secure and sustainable power system
- The International Renewable Energy Agency highlights the electricity transition as a crucial aspect of the overall energy transition, with nearly 700 gigawatts of renewable energy deployed in 2025
20:00–25:00
Asia-Pacific accounts for nearly 47% of global energy demand, with coal supplying almost half of the region's electricity. Despite significant renewable energy deployment, investment remains insufficient for a sustainable transition.
- Asia-Pacific represents nearly 47% of global energy demand, with coal supplying almost half of the regions electricity
- China and India are significant contributors to the regions energy landscape, experiencing a decline in coal and fossil fuel generation; however, Indias ambitions for development by 2047 may increase electricity demand
- Despite adding over 400 gigawatts of renewable energy annually, Asias investment in renewables is only about half of what is necessary for a sustainable energy transition
- The shift towards clean electricity generation is encouraging, as fossil fuel generation is no longer increasing, but improvements in energy efficiency within the electricity system are still needed
- Renewable energy costs have become more competitive, with 91% of new renewable projects being cheaper than fossil fuels; solar energy is now 41% less expensive than fossil fuels
- China and India are emerging as some of the lowest-cost renewable energy markets globally, achieving record low Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for solar and wind
25:00–30:00
The Asia-Pacific region faces significant barriers to renewable energy growth, primarily due to inadequate grid infrastructure and outdated market structures. Investment in flexibility and storage is crucial to support the rapid increase in renewable energy generation.
- The main barriers to renewable energy growth in the Asia-Pacific region are anticipated to be related to grid infrastructure and market structures, rather than technological or economic factors
- To prevent bottlenecks, investment in flexibility and storage must keep pace with the rapid increase in renewable energy generation, especially in the ASEAN region where interconnected grids are vital
- Current market frameworks are insufficient for the efficient integration of renewables, highlighting the need for updates to support the unprecedented growth of renewable energy sources
- Challenges such as increased curtailment of renewables, lengthy connection queues, and project commissioning delays could impede the energy transition
- The shift towards wind and solar energy is essential, as these sources are becoming integral to modern energy systems, with decisions made in Asia today impacting global energy futures