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• The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that renewable energy will become the top source of electricity globally by 2026 at the latest, surpassing coal.
• This growth is being driven primarily by rapid increases in wind and solar power, which are expected to meet over 90% of the new global electricity demand through 2026.
• The rise of renewables, along with growth in nuclear and gas power, is expected to cause a decline in coal-fired generation. This will lead to a decrease in power-sector emissions.
• The drop in coal use will be led by declines in China and the European Union, which will outweigh increases in countries like the United States and India.
• Despite some political opposition to wind and solar, their combined share of global electricity generation is forecasted to grow significantly, from just 1% in 2005 to nearly 20% in 2026.
• The shift to renewables is happening even as global electricity demand is growing faster than its historical average, driven by factors like industry, appliances, air conditioning, and data centers.