Global Energy Demand Up 1.7% in 2025 as Clean Power Reaches Record Share: Report

Global energy demand rose 1.7% in 2025, driven by economic growth in developing nations and the electrification of transport and industry. At the same time, clean power sources, solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear, reached their highest ever share of total electricity generation, according to a new report cited by Saur Energy.

The report, released this week, shows that renewable energy alone accounted for more than half of new power capacity added worldwide in 2025. Solar photovoltaic installations led the way, with China, India, and the United States building the most new capacity.

Solar and wind lead the charge

Solar power added roughly 400 gigawatts of new capacity globally in 2025, a jump of nearly 25% from the previous year. Wind energy added another 120 gigawatts, with offshore wind projects in Europe and Asia driving much of that growth. India alone commissioned over 20 gigawatts of new solar capacity, putting the country on track to meet its target of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

"The numbers show that clean power is no longer a niche, it is the main engine of new electricity supply," the report states. "But demand is growing so fast that fossil fuel use has not yet peaked."

Coal-fired generation rose slightly in 2025, mainly in India and Southeast Asia, where rising electricity needs outpaced the build-out of renewables. Natural gas use also grew, particularly in the United States and the Middle East.

India's role in the global energy shift

India's energy demand grew by 4.5% in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing major economies for power consumption. The country added record solar and wind capacity, but coal still supplied about 70% of its electricity.

"We are building clean power faster than ever, but we also need to keep the lights on," said a senior official at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The transition will take time."

The report notes that India's per capita electricity use remains low compared to developed nations, meaning demand will keep rising as more households and businesses connect to the grid. Electric vehicle sales in India doubled in 2025, adding pressure on the grid but also cutting oil imports.

Global clean power milestone

Clean energy sources generated 42% of the world's electricity in 2025, up from 39% in 2024. Solar and wind together supplied 18% of global power, overtaking hydro for the first time. Nuclear power held steady at around 10%.

"This is a milestone, but not a finish line," the report warns. "To meet climate goals, clean power needs to reach 70% of global generation by 2035. That means tripling current rates of renewable deployment."

Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose 0.8% in 2025, a slower rate than in previous years. The report attributes this to the growing share of clean power, which offset some of the emissions from rising fossil fuel use.

The full report, compiled by the International Energy Agency and other research bodies, will be published later this month. It will include country-by-country breakdowns and projections for 2026.