Global energy supply rose 1.7% to record levels for a second consecutive year, with all major energy sources reaching new highs, the Energy Institute said in a note on Tuesday, adding that global emissions rose 1.1%, though regional trends diverged sharply.
China's emissions grew only 0.3%, while India's rose 0.9%, both below the global average. By contrast, the US recorded a 3.2% increase, the largest among major economies, driven by a 13% rise in coal-fired generation.
Renewables emerged as the largest driver of growth for the first time outside a recessionary period, with solar accounting for 71% of the increase in renewable supply.
Electricity demand grew faster than overall energy use, rising 3%, as electrification expanded across transport, industry and digital infrastructure. Data centers consumed 788 terawatt-hours globally, with 40% of that demand in the US.
Renewable generation and hydropower surpassed coal as the largest source of electricity generation, as fossil generation declined overall.
Solar generation rose 30% globally, and battery capacity surged 66%, underscoring the rapid scaling of key clean technologies. China alone added more wind and solar capacity than the rest of the world combined, while India saw renewable generation rise nearly 24%.
In contrast, the US recorded a 28% increase in solar output alongside the 13% rise in coal generation. Europe saw moderate renewable growth of 7%, while wind output weakened.
The report also highlights a structural shift in oil production, with the Americas now producing 20% more oil than the Middle East.
Energy Institute leadership described the system as being at a "tipping point" marked by record demand, accelerating electrification, and rising geopolitical risk. The institute warned that while clean power is scaling quickly, emissions growth and energy security pressures persist, underscoring uneven transition pathways across regions.