Global clean power growth points to permanent shift, analysts say

{"text":[[{"start":7.1,"text":"Global clean power output grew faster than electricity demand last year, according to new figures which analysts argue represent a structural shift away from fossil fuels that would persist beyond the Middle East war. "}],[{"start":19.799999999999997,"text":"The rapid growth of solar power in particular contributed to a small annual decrease in output from fossil fuel power stations, according to the analysis by independent think-tank Ember."}],[{"start":31.499999999999996,"text":"It marked the first time fossil fuel output had fallen since 2020 pandemic year, Ember said, highlighting the enormous impact that solar and wind power are having on electricity systems. The report covered clean energy sources including nuclear, geothermal and biofuels. "}],[{"start":51.14999999999999,"text":"Renewable energy sources also generated more electricity than coal-fired power stations in 2025, Ember said, “for the first time in the modern power system”, extending a trend first seen in the first half of last year. "}],[{"start":64.85,"text":"The ability of renewable sources to meet electricity demand growth, if sustained, is significant because it suggests they are on course to eat into fossil-fuel supplies rather than just add to them."}],[{"start":76.89999999999999,"text":"Aditya Lolla, interim managing director at Ember, said low-carbon electricity was “scaling fast enough to absorb rising global electricity demand” and its momentum was now a “structural reality”. "}],[{"start":89.8,"text":"The review by Ember, which has received funding from groups including the European Climate Foundation and the Sequoia Climate Foundation, comes as the Iran war is causing several major economies to lean on coal-fired power as a replacement for gas-fired power because of high gas prices. "}],[{"start":106.94999999999999,"text":"However, industry sources and analysts expect the war will also accelerate the rollout of wind and solar power, as countries try to insulate themselves from fossil fuel shocks. "}],[{"start":116.94999999999999,"text":"Separate data analysed by Ember show that China’s exports of solar panels, batteries and electric cars reached a record high of $21.9bn in the month of March 2026, which was 70 per cent higher than in March the previous year. "}],[{"start":133.54999999999998,"text":"Export levels have been influenced by tax changes set to come into effect in April, but highlight huge demand for green technology as well as China’s role supplying the world with green energy equipment while the US’s war against Iran disrupts fossil fuel supplies."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":148.95,"text":"China’s exports of solar, lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles have totalled $200bn over the past 12 months, according to Ember’s data, or about 6 per cent of all its exports. "}],[{"start":161.5,"text":"Wind and solar farms were installed at pace globally last year: roughly 647 gigawatts of solar power were added, alongside a record 165GW of wind, according to figures published this week by the Global Wind Energy Council. This is sufficient to power the equivalent of 200mn average western homes."}],[{"start":182.65,"text":"In terms of output, global solar power generation across the year increased by 636 terawatt-hours — more than double the UK’s annual consumption — wind by 205 TWh; nuclear by 35 TWh; and other low carbon generation by 11 TWh, according to Ember. "}],[{"start":203.4,"text":"That was greater than the 849 TWh increase in global electricity demand, while generation from fossil fuel power stations fell by 38 TWh."}],[{"start":213.95000000000002,"text":"The report also highlights the growing role of batteries to store solar and wind output and discharge it when needed, as falling costs turn the technology into “core infrastructure”. "}],[{"start":224.15,"text":"However, for now fossil fuel generators are still needed to meet the night-time demand peak, and their night-time output grew. "}],[{"start":231.95000000000002,"text":"“While solar meets daytime demand, fossil generation keeps growing in the dark hours,” Ember said. "}],[{"start":238.95000000000002,"text":"“In most countries, demand rose across all hours, so even when solar met the majority or all demand growth on an annual basis, fossil generation often continued to rise outside daylight hours, as evident in countries like India and the US.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":260.75,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1776749584_7367.mp3"}