Renewable energies has hit a new record high in the United States energy sector, generating more than 50.8% of electricity in the first half of 2025, according to new data from global energy think tank Ember.
The report also acknowledged that the US hit a new record low for fossil fuels in the electricity mix as solar and wind reached a record high in first quarter of 2025. In March 2025, fossil fuels accounted for less than 50% (49.2%) of electricity generated, for the first month on record. This surpasses the previous monthly record low of 51% set in April 2024.
According to the Ember report, US solar power increased a staggering 37% (+8.3 TWh) in March 2025, compared to March 2024. Wind power increased by 12% (+5.7 TWh). Together wind and solar reached an all-time high, generating 83 TWh of US electricity, 11% higher than the previous record of 75 TWh set in April 2024. In comparison, fossil generation fell by 2.5% (-4.3 TWh) compared to March 2024.
“The shift meant that clean sources generated more than half (50.8%) of US electricity for the first month on record,” Ember report highlighted, noting that the record was driven largely by an increase in wind and solar power, which reached a record 24.4% of US electricity in March 2025.
Nicolas Fulghum, Senior Data Analyst, Ember commented, “This clearly demonstrates the growing role of wind and solar in the US energy system. This is a first signal that the US is approaching a tipping point where clean power takes the lead over fossil generation, and where the importance of coal and gas inevitably starts to fade. Wind and solar power are pushing fossil fuels out of the mix. The reality on the ground is not one of a return to fossil fuels in the US, it’s the continued growth of solar and wind power that will be the dominant driver of electricity generation growth in the US.”
The Ember report also projected that solar power is set to account for more than half of new generating capacity installed in the US in 2025, with more than a third of new solar panels going to Texas. Solar’s rise has been extraordinary. Ten years ago, in March 2015, solar power accounted for just 1% of US electricity generation. By March 2025, this had grown to 9.2%.
Last month Ember published a special report, US Electricity 2025, on the changes and trends in the US power sector last year. It found that solar was the fastest and largest growing source of electricity in the US in 2024. Wind and solar power combined rose to a record 17% of the US electricity mix in 2024, overtaking coal for the first time which accounted for 15%.
The milestone is the result of a long term decline of fossil generation in the US power sector, with wind and solar growing substantially over the last decade. Ten years ago, in March 2015, fossil generation still provided 65% of US electricity generation. Wind and solar generation stood at just 5.7%. Since then, the share of wind and solar power has more than quadrupled.