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Clean Energy Growth Drives Decline in Gas Share of Global Power Mix in 2025, Ember Says

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Natural gas accounted for a smaller share of global electricity generation for a fifth consecutive year in 2025, as rapid growth in renewable energy continued to outpace rising power demand, Ember analyst Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka said in a Tuesday note.

Although gas-fired generation increased slightly in absolute terms, global gas output rose by just 38 terawatt-hours, or 0.6%, in 2025.

Gas supplied less than 5% of global electricity demand growth, while solar generation surged by 636 TWh, meeting roughly three-quarters of new demand.

As a result, gas' share of the global power mix fell to 21.8% in 2025 from 23.9% in 2020. Between 2021 and 2025, gas generation expanded at an average annual rate of 1.6%, roughly half the pace recorded during 2016-2020.

Clean power sources, led by solar and wind, met around 68% of global electricity demand growth over the last five years, reducing the need for additional gas-fired generation.

The shift is becoming increasingly widespread. By 2025, 61 of 124 economies that generate electricity from gas had remained below their historical gas-generation peaks for at least five consecutive years. Those countries accounted for about one-fifth of global gas-fired power generation.

The trend is particularly evident among major gas-importing economies. Four G7 members, the UK, Germany, Italy and Japan, have remained below their previous gas-generation peaks for at least five years.

Across the G7, gas generation fell by 50 TWh in 2025, while renewable output reached 2,544 TWh, nearly matching gas-fired generation of 2,577 TWh.

Meanwhile, major emerging economies are expanding their electricity supply with limited reliance on gas. China's gas share remained near 3% of its electricity mix despite strong demand growth, while gas generation has already peaked in India and Brazil.

Analysts said geopolitical disruptions have reinforced the shift by highlighting the cost and security risks associated with imported gas.

Supply shocks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 accelerated renewable deployment, while more recent disruptions in the liquefied natural gas market have strengthened efforts to diversify power systems.

The findings suggest that gas is increasingly shifting from a driver of structural growth in the power sector to a balancing role alongside expanding renewable electricity systems.

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