The global energy sector witnessed a truly historic event in 2025, when renewable energy production exceeded coal-fired generation for the first time. At the same time, the deployment of new solar and wind power capacity offset the growth in humanity's energy consumption.
The scientific journal Science named the renewable energy boom one of the breakthroughs of 2025.
Further growth in the renewable energy sector seems guaranteed. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the UN that China will reduce carbon emissions by 10% in 10 years by doubling energy from solar and wind power plants. At the same time, green energy is also reaching Africa and South Asia, where people have realized that renewable energy makes energy cheaper.
China as a driver of green transformation
China is currently the dominant player in the renewable energy sector. Its industry manufactures 80% of all solar panels, 70% of wind turbines, and 70% of lithium batteries.
Production continues to grow as demand increases. To maintain its position, China is producing more and more equipment for renewable energy infrastructure, making it cheaper. That is why wind and solar power generation has become cheaper than fossil fuels in most parts of the world.
Indeed, China still remains the world’s primary polluter, but its “fields” of solar stations and wind turbines are the largest on the planet. Their capacity is sufficient to power the entire United States.
Trends in other countries
Europe is steadily increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy balance, using Chinese technology. At the same time, countries in the Global South have also turned their attention to renewable energy following the rise in natural gas prices and the cost of energy derived from it. In particular, Pakistan has increased its imports of Chinese solar panels fivefold in two years, from 2022 to 2024.
A grain of doubt
Despite the positive dynamics in the renewable energy sector, China continues to build dozens of new coal-fired power plants.
At the same time, the US is actively fighting clean energy by blocking the construction of new wind and solar power plants and supporting oil production.
Another fact is the slow transition to renewable energy and electricity in general in some sectors of the economy that produce a lot of carbon emissions. In particular, we are talking about air transport and heavy industry.
However, despite these questionable trends, the development of renewable energy will continue to grow rapidly and dynamically, at least in the coming years.
“Right now, real driving force is selfishness: lower cost and greater energy security. This shift in motivation could be the most important breakthrough of all, ensuring that the tipping points of 2025 are just the beginning,” Science added.
Within the European Union, energy from renewables supplied 47.5% of energy generation, as previously reported by EcoPolityka.
The United States is attempting to change the global course of energy development. This is evidenced, in particular, by statements from the country’s top officials about plans to develop oil fields in recently reclaimed Venezuela.
