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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 1d

Read the full report here: ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025 | Ember

Solar and wind outpaced demand growth in the first half of 2025, as renewables overtook coal’s share in the global electricity mix.

ember-energy.org

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 1d

NEW @ember-energy.org report out today | Renewables now produce more electricity than coal worldwide ⚡️

Renewables produced 5,072 TWh (34.4% share) in the first half of 2025 overtaking coal for the first time which stood at 4,896 TWh (33.1%.)

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 1d

More than 5% isn't possible...more than 10% isn't possible...

Solar was already at 8.8% of GLOBAL electricity generation in the first half of 2025, more than doubling since 2021 (3.8%). ☀️

I guess 30% is the new limit??

🇭🇺Hungary: 29.7%
🇬🇷Greece: 26.3%
🇳🇱Netherlands: 25.7%

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

You can read the full @ember-energy.org report on global electricity generation in the first half of 2025 out today: ember-energy.org/latest-insig...

Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025 | Ember

Solar and wind outpaced demand growth in the first half of 2025, as renewables overtook coal’s share in the global electricity mix.

ember-energy.org

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

However, even periods of low demand growth would have not led to substantial fossil fuel falls in the past in India.

The difference now? Record growth in wind and solar generation.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

The slow demand growth was caused by temperature differences between 2025 and 2024.

2024 saw record heatwaves push up cooling demand, but 2025 has been much milder. This moderated demand growth, sometimes even dropping below 2024 levels, a rare sight in India's steadily growing power sector.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

In India, record solar and wind growth combined with favourable hydro conditions to drive fossil generation down substantially. However, electricity demand increased by just 1.3% compared to a 9% increase in H1-2024.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

The first half of 2025 is the continuation of a flattening out of fossil generation in China.

Fossil power has plateaued since early 2024 as solar and wind have been matching or growing faster than electricity demand.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

The fall in fossil generation in India and China had slightly different reasons.

In China, low-carbon power growth from solar, wind (and some nuclear) was higher than the increase in electricity demand, despite a small fall in hydro generation. This led to a decline in coal.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

The continued rapid growth of solar generation meant that renewables overtook coal for the first time.

Coal generation dipped slightly compared to the first half of 2024, with renewables continuing to grow.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

On a global level, wind and solar met and exceeded the growth in electricity demand, particularly as a result of record breaking solar growth.

A fall in hydro negated some of the growth in solar, wind and nuclear, but fossil fuels still saw a small decline.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 2d

NEW | Electricity generation from fossil fuels fell in China and India in the first half of 2025 🔥📉

This marks a reversal from previous trends.

Simultaneously, there was a small uptick in the US and in the EU.

A thread 🧵

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

You can find data for actual GW exports for solar power in our existing, dedicated solar PV export tool ember-energy.org/data/chinas-...

China's Solar PV Export Explorer | Ember

The latest solar PV export data from the world's largest exporter, China, by country or region of destination. Data updated on a monthly basis.

ember-energy.org

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

Check out the "China Cleantech Exports Data Explorer" out today and explore all the data yourself.

Fantastic work by my colleagues @euangraham.bsky.social and @libbycopsey.bsky.social

ember-energy.org/data/china-c...

China Cleantech Exports Data Explorer | Ember

A tool to uncover insights from the latest clean technology export data from China, including solar PV, batteries and electric vehicles. Explore by electrotech type, country or region.

ember-energy.org

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

The new data explorer also includes a full breakdown of every technology by country.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

Despite the cost declines, the value of battery exports is higher than ever🔋

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

In fact, solar module exports reached a record high in August according to our existing tracking of GW exports for cells, panels and wafers.

At the same time, the value of solar PV exports peaked in early 2023 as our new tool shows.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

The increase in export value is even more impressive considering the substantial fall in costs for some clean technologies like batteries and solar modules.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

For EVs, emerging markets like ASEAN or the Middle East are becoming increasingly important.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

EV and battery exports are the biggest drivers of the growth in export value. In the last 12 months, China exported $76bn of batteries and $57bn of EVs.

The export value of batteries is 4x higher than in 2020, the value of EV exports has grown 10x.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 3d

NEW DATA | China's exports of clean technologies exceeded 20 billion USD for the first time in August📈

We just published a new @ember-energy.org data tool to track exports of EVs, batteries, gridtech etc. on top of our existing tracking of solar exports.

🧵

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 4d

It's astonishing how wide the battery curve has gotten in California.

Last Tuesday, batteries consistently supplied more than 20% of demand for 4 hours from 6pm to 10pm.

Price signals are working well.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 5d

Get the latest @ember-energy.org data out now in our Electricity Data Explorer ember-energy.org/data/electri...

Electricity Data Explorer | Ember

Explore national and state level fossil and renewable electricity generation and carbon emissions data for the United States

ember-energy.org

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 5d

Generation from fossil fuels saw a small increase of 3 TWh (+1.3%). Slightly lower wind and hydro power were partially offset by increased nuclear output.

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Nicolas Fulghum @nicolasfulghum.bsky.social · 5d

Demand growth also continued.

US electricity demand reached 378 TWh, a 2.4% (9 TWh) increase over September 2024.

In 2025, demand has been consistently higher than in 2024 on top of already strong growth of 3% across 2024.

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