In 2025, solar PV led global energy supply growth for the first time. (IEA)
Solar accounted for >25% of the overall rise, per a new IEA report, ahead of natural gas at 17%. The added solar generation (600 TWh) marked the largest recorded single-year increase for any electricity generation tech. Together, renewables + nuclear met nearly 60% of new energy demand.
Meanwhile, battery storage claimed the crown as the year's fastest-growing power sector tech. Around 110 GW of new battery capacity came online globally, beating the biggest-ever annual additions for natural gas. Plus, last year offered some early evidence for the nuclear revival: Over 12 GW of reactors broke ground as momentum returned in several regions.