Solar Powers Record Global Energy Surge

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power delivered the biggest year-on-year generation increase ever recorded for any energy source in 2025 , according to an analysis released Monday by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA said the surge helped carbon-free sources grow faster than rising global energy demand, and described 2025 as the first year in which solar led new energy capacity growth.

The IEA’s worldwide energy trends report said solar PV generation topped 2,700 terawatt-hours in 2025. That level was described as more than double the output from three years earlier, and the agency said solar now provides over 8% of global electricity production.

In the same assessment, the IEA said carbon-free generating sources covered nearly 60% of the overall increase in energy demand. The report also noted that while growth was broad-based across energy sources, renewables accounted for over half of the expansion.

Storage growth was highlighted as a key enabler for integrating variable renewables. The IEA said battery storage capacity additions rose by 40% between 2024 and 2025, reaching 110 GW of new capacity, supporting the system’s ability to absorb intermittent output such as solar generation.

Transport electrification also accelerated, according to the IEA. The agency said electric vehicle demand increased by nearly 40% in 2025, and that electric cars represented a quarter of total car sales.

Fossil fuel consumption still edged higher in the period covered by the report. The IEA said oil use rose by 0.7% and natural gas consumption increased by 1% , with the agency attributing the gains primarily to weather-related heating demand.

Bringing these trends together, the IEA said the rapid scaling of solar and batteries underpins a broader shift it described as the world entering the “Age of Electricity.” The report’s framing points to electricity’s growing role across power generation, transport, and energy storage, even as overall demand continues to rise.