RENEWABLE energy has overtaken fossil fuels as the world’s main source of electricity for the first time in over a century, in a global shift driven in part by Spain’s rapid transition.
A 2025 report by British analysts group Ember shows renewables – including wind, solar and hydropower – generated 33.8% of the world’s electricity, just ahead of coal at 33%.
The shift marks the first time since the early 1900s that coal has lost its place at the top, in what experts describe as a “historic” turning point for how energy is produced.
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“The world is entering an era of clean growth and moving away from one based on fossil fuels in the power sector,” the report said.
It added the change is likely to be “permanent” and will help cut reliance on fossil fuels across the wider economy.
Coal remains the single biggest contributor to global warming, studies show. But its grip on the power sector has weakened steadily over the past decade, falling from 39% in 2015 to 33% in 2025.
By contrast, renewables have surged from 23% to 34% over the same period and are expected to keep rising quickly in the years ahead.
Most of the growth in electricity demand last year was met by clean energy, the report said, with solar leading the way.
In Spain, the shift is already well advanced. More than half of the country’s electricity now comes from renewable sources. Official data from grid operator Red Electrica show renewables made up 55.5% of generation in 2025, rising to 56.6% when small-scale solar is included.
That puts Spain comfortably ahead of the global average.
Wind remains the country’s biggest source of electricity, while solar has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by large projects and rooftop installations.
Together, they have pushed fossil fuels into a much smaller role in Spain’s power mix.
The country is aiming to go further still, with plans to reach around 81% renewable electricity by 2030.
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