Solar and Wind Hit 4 Terawatts of Global Capacity in 2025

Clean energy just hit a milestone that seemed impossible a decade ago.

Solar and wind power combined now generate more than 4 terawatts of electricity worldwide, according to a new report from Ember, a global energy think tank. That's enough capacity to power billions of homes without burning a single fossil fuel.

In 2025 alone, the world added 647 gigawatts of solar power and 167 gigawatts of wind. Solar grew 11% compared to 2024, while wind installations surged 47% thanks to record-breaking offshore wind projects.

To put those numbers in perspective, the new capacity added in just one year could displace more than a seventh of all the natural gas burned globally for electricity. That represents about $138 billion in annual gas import costs that countries no longer need to spend.

"The scale and speed of solar's expansion is unlike anything seen before in the power sector," said Leonard Heberer, a data analyst with Ember. Solar panels are being installed nearly four times faster than wind turbines, creating a 3.9-to-1 ratio between the two technologies.

The Ripple Effect

This clean energy boom means more than just environmental progress. Countries are building energy independence, reducing their reliance on fragile fossil fuel supply chains that can be disrupted by global conflicts or trade disputes.

Consumers stand to benefit too. As renewable energy scales up, it helps shield people from the price spikes that hit when oil and gas markets go haywire. When the sun and wind are free, electricity bills become more predictable.

Ember also launched a new tracking tool that lets anyone monitor clean energy growth across 25 countries in real time. The data shows month-by-month progress dating back to December 2020, making it easy to see which nations are leading the charge.

The report notes that wind and solar are "on track to become the backbone of the global electricity supply." What started as experimental technology just decades ago is now outpacing every other form of new power generation.

The momentum keeps building as costs continue dropping and more communities see the benefits of clean, locally generated power.