This trend was also observed globally in the first six months of 2025, with renewables generating more electricity than coal overall.
Here’s what to know.
Energy
Renewable energy is derived from natural resources like sunlight and wind.
Forms include solar power, wind, hydro, and bioenergy (converted from plants).
Coal is burned as a fossil fuel to produce energy.
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. Adding more CO₂ and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere causes hotter temperatures on Earth.
Australia
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Ember found renewables generated more electricity in Australia than burning coal in September.
Renewables generated 9.24 terawatt hours of electricity in September, whilecoal generated 8.8 terawatt hours. One terawatt is enough to power 100 million homes for an hour.
When combined with gas, however, fossil fuels still generated more than renewables — 9.87 terawatt hours in total.
World
The first six months of 2025 also saw renewables produce more electricity than coal for the first time globally.
Ember said this happened because solar and wind “outpaced the growth in global electricity demand” which led to a “very small decline in both coal and gas” use compared to the first half of 2024.
Ember Senior Analyst Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka said: “We are seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point… This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.”
