Renewable energy sources accounted for approximately 34% of global electricity generation in 2025. Hydropower contributed 15%, wind 8%, and solar 7%. In contrast, fossil fuels remained the primary source, representing nearly 60% of global production, with coal at 35% and natural gas at 22%.
The transition is accelerating, with renewables representing over 85% of new global electricity generation capacity in 2025. Total renewable capacity reached 5,149 GW in 2025, a nearly 7-fold increase since 2000. In 2025 alone, capacity grew by 15.5%, adding 629 GW to the global grid.
Economic factors are driving this shift, as the levelized cost of electricity for utility-scale solar and onshore wind fell by 90% and 70% respectively between 2010 and 2024. Additionally, the cost of four-hour battery storage dropped 90% from 2012 to 2025, reaching $78 per MWh.
Corporate demand is a significant growth factor, with major companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft driving about half of corporate renewable purchases. These firms accounted for 27 GW of new solar and wind capacity in 2025, supported by policies from over 130 governments worldwide.
