Solar power has overtaken all other energy sources for the first time, accounting for more than 25% of global energy supply growth in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency. This marks a historic shift as renewable energy leads the expansion of global power generation. Overall energy demand grew by 1.3%, while electricity demand surged 3%, driven by electrification, EV adoption, and data centers.

Despite slower overall energy growth due to economic factors and mild weather, clean energy sources dominated the expansion. Renewables and nuclear together met nearly 60% of increased energy demand, with solar alone adding a record 600 terawatt-hours of generation globally. Natural gas contributed 17% of growth, while battery storage installations reached 110 gigawatts, setting a new record for power technology deployment.

Electric vehicles are beginning to impact oil demand, with sales jumping over 20% to more than 20 million vehicles worldwide. Global oil demand grew just 0.7%, exactly as the IEA predicted. While emissions growth slowed to 0.4%, regional variations persist, with China's emissions declining and advanced economies seeing faster emission increases due to cold weather. The transition shows clear momentum toward electrification and clean power, though uneven adoption across regions means fossil fuels still play significant roles in some markets.