RENEWABLE energy has become the world’s main source of electricity, after overtaking coal for the first time in the first part of this year, a leading global energy think tank reported today.

In a report, Ember said world demand for electricity was growing, but the growth in solar and wind power was so strong that it met 100 per cent of the extra demand and even helped to drive a small decline in coal and gas use.

Ember said developing countries, especially China, led the historic change in towards clean energy while richer nations, including the United States and members of the European Union, continued to rely more than before on planet-warming fossil fuels for their electricity.

China remains far ahead in clean energy growth, adding more solar and wind use than the rest of the world combined. This allowed the growth in renewable generation in China to outstrip rising electricity demand and helped to reduce its fossil fuel generation by around 2 per cent.

India, with its population of 1.4 billion people, experienced slower growth in electricity demand but still added significant solar and wind capacity, allowing it to cut back on both coal and gas.

In the US, however, the demand for electricity outstripped clean energy production. Rather than moving towards clean energy, the US actually increased its reliance on fossil fuels.

Similarly, the 27 EU countries recorded a rise in coal and gas use for power generation as wind and hydropower performance declined.

Ember senior analyst Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka said the trend towards clean energy “marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.”

Solar power was responsible for the lion’s share of growth, meeting 83 per cent of the increase in electricity demand. 

It has now been the largest source of new electricity globally for three years running.