The power sector continued its gradual expansion and transformation: in 2025, global installed capacity and electricity generation increased by around 7% and 3%, respectively, compared with the previous year. Conventional sources accounted for around 65% of total installed capacity, while variable renewables reached approximately 35% and drove most of the capacity growth. At the same time, the evolution of the power mix shows that growth in installed capacity does not automatically translate into an equivalent contribution to electricity generation. While the share of fossil fuels in installed capacity declined from 63% in 2015 to 46% in 2025, the availability and variability of intermittent renewable sources continue to constrain their contribution to generation and require support from conventional sources. Despite the rapid expansion of solar and wind, fossil fuels still account for almost 60% of global electricity generation, while variable renewables as a whole contribute just over 15%. This highlights the need for the gradual integration of different energy sources and technologies to meet growing electricity demand while ensuring the continuity, reliability and resilience of power systems.
In 2025, global energy-related CO₂ emissions, including process emissions, increased by 0.4% compared with 2024, reaching a new record of 38.2 Gt, equivalent to a 1% CAGR over 2015–2025. Coal remained the largest source of global emissions, reflecting its continued significance in the global energy system. Among the largest emitters, China recorded a slight decline in emissions in 2025 (-0.5% vs 2024), although this did not reverse the overall upward trend observed over the past decade (+2.2% CAGR). US emissions increased by 2.4% compared with 2024, while maintaining a gradual downward trajectory over 2015–2025 (-0.8%). In India, emissions remained broadly stable in 2025, while still being part of a strongly rising long-term trend (+3.5%).
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