Renewables Eclipse Coal: A Global Energy Turning Point.

𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 2025, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

Published By Bruce Alpine. 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝒜s of November, renewable energy sources have firmly outpaced coal in global electricity generation, a seismic shift signaling the dawn of a cleaner power era.

In the first half of 2025, renewables—led by solar, wind, and hydro—delivered 34.3% of the world's electricity (5,072 TWh), edging out coal's 33.1% (4,896 TWh).

By Q3, this lead expanded to 35.2% for renewables versus 32.8% for coal, fueled by a 31% surge in solar output and 12% wind growth, despite a 3.1% rise in global demand.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) now projects renewables will hit over 35% by year-end, surpassing coal outright and poised to exceed 40% by 2027, with solar and wind each overtaking nuclear in 2026. 

Utility-scale renewables are set for 9% more generation in 2025 than 2024, driven by plummeting costs—solar and wind now cheaper than new coal in most regions. 

Fossil fuel is now a source of a by-gone era.

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— 𝔅𝔯𝔲𝔠𝔢 𝔄𝔩𝔭𝔦𝔫𝔢 (@balpine.bsky.social) November 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM

Renewable generated electricity will continue and improve as countries address and accept renewable sources. 

Over 80% of nations are accelerating capacity additions beyond prior five-year trends, bolstered by policy reforms and COP30 pledges. 

Yet, grid enhancements and storage innovations remain critical hurdles in this resilient transition. 

This momentum, however, faces headwinds from ignorance and political ideologies favoring fossil fuels, threatening electricity production's stability. 

Partisan rifts, evident in U.S. conservative states' solar hesitancy amid climate doubt, slow adoption, inflate costs, and expose grids to fossil volatility.

US President Donald Trump's administration exemplifies this: his April executive order hailed "beautiful clean coal," followed by $625 million in September grants for plant upgrades and orders unlocking 13 million federal acres for mining—moves that could lock in emissions for decades. 

Such resistance isn't isolated. At least four Western powerhouses—the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Norway—push fossil expansions, undermining phase-outs. 

Why? as of November 2025. renewable energy generation has surpassed oil and gas generation.

You are taking Aotearoa backwards into a by-gone era that no longer exists.

You should be embracing renewable energy sources with the rest of the world.

— 𝔅𝔯𝔲𝔠𝔢 𝔄𝔩𝔭𝔦𝔫𝔢 (@alpine_bruce) November 6, 2025

In New Zealand, the right-wing coalition, including New Zealand First and ACT parties, enacted the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 to lift offshore oil/gas bans, poured $200 million into new gas fields, and slashed funding for 35+ climate programs, prioritizing short-term fossil gains over long-term sustainability. 

Non-adoption amplifies risks: grid blackouts, trillions in climate damages by 2050, and inequities where coal-dependent areas suffer job losses while innovators thrive. 

Evidence-based dialogue and cross-aisle incentives are vital for affordable, reliable power. 

Countries who reject and ignore the rapid increase in renewable energy production, in accordance with renewables surpassing coal production, are risking the future for all future generations by entrenching dependencies that heighten climate perils, economic fragility, and intergenerational injustice. 

Embracing this pivot isn't optional—it's imperative for a habitable planet.

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