Renewable energy sources supplied more than 60% of global electricity generation for the first time ever during April 2026, according to data released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The milestone marks a dramatic acceleration in the clean energy transition.
Solar photovoltaic capacity alone grew by 285 gigawatts in 2025 — the largest single-year expansion of any energy technology in history — driven by rapidly falling costs and aggressive policy support in China, the European Union, and the United States.
The breakdown:
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol described the milestone as "a watershed moment for the global energy system," adding that the transition was happening faster than most models had predicted even three years ago.
The achievement comes as electricity demand continues to rise globally, driven by the electrification of transport, heating, and industrial processes. Despite the renewables milestone, absolute fossil fuel consumption is still projected to peak in 2027 before declining.
Energy storage technology, particularly grid-scale batteries, is credited with enabling higher renewable penetration by smoothing out supply variability.