Major Countries and Regions

China’s electricity demand increased by 5% in 2025 (+503 TWh). Growth was below the average annual rate of 6.7% between 2020 and 2024 despite slightly higher cooling demand than in 2024 and GDP growth similar to recent years.

China’s clean generation growth (+561 TWh, +15%) was sufficient to meet all the additional demand in 2025. Wind and solar alone added 474 TWh (+26%), covering 94% of China’s demand growth in 2025.

Solar remained the dominant force reshaping China’s electricity mix. Solar generation increased by 336 TWh in 2025 (+40%). Over the last five years, solar generation has been growing at an average annual rate of 35%.

The magnitude of China’s solar growth is unprecedented. China added more solar generation in 2025 (+336 TWh) than the entire world added in 2023 (+331 TWh) and more than the United Kingdom’s total annual electricity demand (322 TWh in 2025). It was also four times as large as the second-highest solar increase in 2025 (+85 TWh in the US).

Wind generation increased by 138 TWh (+14%) in 2025, reaching 11% of China’s total generation, one percentage point higher than last year.

China’s renewable capacity deployments were particularly high in the first half of 2025, as developers aimed to complete projects before new rules on wind and solar compensation took effect in June 2025. Additions remained robust even in the second half of 2025 despite expectations of a significant slowdown. Overall, China accounted for 58% of global solar installations (378 GW (DC)) and 72% of global wind installations (119 GW).

Beyond domestic additions, China also plays a decisive role in enabling solar deployment worldwide by expanding its solar photovoltaic exports.

China’s nuclear generation increased by 37 TWh (+8.2%) in 2025, more than double the annual increases in 2023 (+17 TWh) and 2024 (+16 TWh). Nuclear accounted for 4.6% of China’s electricity mix in 2025.

China’s fossil generation declined by 56 TWh (-0.9%) in 2025. This was the first year since 2015 without an increase. Coal declined by 71 TWh (-1.2%), which was partially offset by a 14 TWh (+4.3%) increase in gas generation compared with 2024.

China’s electricity demand reached 10,573 TWh in 2025, accounting for a third of global electricity demand. Over the past decade, China’s electricity demand has nearly doubled from 5,802 TWh in 2015.

China’s wind and solar generation in 2025 reached 2,310 TWh, almost double that of 2022 (1,190 TWh). Solar output in 2025 (1,175 TWh) was more than four times as large as it was five years ago (261 TWh in 2020).

Coal’s share of electricity in China fell from 70% in 2015 to 54% in 2025. However, absolute coal generation remained high at 5,757 TWh in 2025, accounting for 55% of global coal generation. Over the past decade, China has shifted coal’s role from a baseload provider to a more flexible source of generation, as wind and solar become increasingly important in the electricity mix.

As fossil generation fell in 2025, China’s power sector emissions declined by 37 MtCO2e (-0.7%). This was the first absolute decline since 2015, when emissions fell by 3.4%.

Despite leading the world in wind and solar generation, China remains the world’s largest power sector emitter due to the scale of its coal generation. However, the stabilisation of emissions in 2025 may indicate that coal generation is plateauing in China.

Given the scale of China’s power sector, it is a key driver of the global electricity transition. In the last decade, increases in China’s fossil generation accounted for 85% of the global rise.

In 2025, fossil generation accounted for 58% of China’s electricity mix, closely matching the global average (57%). Coal provided 54% of China’s electricity, far above the global average share of 33%.

Clean power accounted for 42% of China’s electricity mix, the same as the global average. Hydro was China’s largest source of clean power at 13%.

Wind and solar reached 22% of China’s electricity mix in 2025, up from 18% in 2024. This share, a new record, now exceeds both the global and Asian averages of 17%. It is also higher than the average for OECD countries (20%).

The carbon intensity of China’s electricity generation fell to 525 gCO2e/kWh in 2025, down 5% from 2024. This reduction is more than double the average annual decline of 2.2% between 2020 and 2024.

Despite this progress, China’s carbon intensity remains above the global average of 458 gCO2e/kWh. However, China is decarbonising its electricity system faster than the world average, as global carbon intensity fell by 2.7% in 2025. China is also increasingly using electricity to rapidly decarbonise its buildings, industry and transport sectors.

China’s per capita electricity demand reached 7.5 MWh in 2025, rising 6% from 7.1 MWh in 2024. This is almost double the global average (3.9 MWh) and the Asia average (3.8 MWh), and more than five times as high as India’s (1.4 MWh).

The combination of a high and rising per capita electricity demand and continued reliance on coal generation kept China’s per capita power sector emissions high at 3.9 tCO2e in 2025. This was double the global average (1.8 tCO2e), almost double the Asia average (2.1 tCO2e), and four times the level of India (0.95 tCO2e).

Electricity demand in the US grew by 3% (+131 TWh) in 2025, similar to growth in 2024 (+132 TWh, +3.1%). This is well above the average annual growth of 0.6% recorded over the previous decade (2015-2024). The increase was partly driven by the rapid expansion of data centres, which are projected to account for around half of total US demand growth through 2030. Colder winter temperatures also drove up electricity demand for heating in 2025, although this was partially offset by milder summer temperatures and reduced cooling demand.

Almost two-thirds (65%) of the rise in electricity demand in the US in 2025 was met by solar growth (+85 TWh, +28%). This was the second-largest increase in solar generation globally in 2025. Wind generation rose by 12.5 TWh (+2.8%), meaning that wind and solar together met 74% of the increase in US electricity demand.

US coal generation increased by 85 TWh (+13%) in 2025, while gas generation declined by 63 TWh (-3.4%), driven by a substantial rise in gas prices over record low prices in 2024. This marked a departure from the long-term pattern in the US of declining coal generation and growing gas generation.

In the four years since 2021, clean power met 88% of demand growth in the US. During this period, combined wind and solar generation increased by 57%, rising from 543 TWh to 853 TWh. This sustained growth resulted in wind and solar overtaking nuclear power in the US for the first time in 2025.

Solar’s share of US electricity generation reached 8.6% in 2025, an increase of 1.7 percentage points compared with the previous year. This rapid rise has been driven by strong momentum at the state level. In six states, the share of solar increased by more than five percentage points in the 24 months ending October 2025. California and Nevada lead the US, with solar shares above 30%.

The share of fossil generation in the US has declined over the last decade, from 67% in 2015 to 57% in 2025, as renewables have increasingly met rising demand. Despite declining in 2025, gas remains the single largest source in the US power mix, at 40%. The US accounted for 26% of global gas generation in 2025.

Although gas-to-coal switching led to an increase in coal generation in the US in 2025, coal power has fallen by nearly two-thirds (-1,279 TWh) since its 2007 peak. In contrast, wind and solar have risen by 818 TWh over the same period.

Gas-to-coal switching in 2025 caused US power sector emissions to rise by 3.1% (+52 MtCO2e), despite fossil generation growing by just 0.9%. However, US power sector emissions remain well below their peak in 2007, which coincided with the peak in coal-fired generation. Since then, emissions have declined by 30%, from 2,479 MtCO2e to 1,737 MtCO2e in 2025.

The US generated 43.0% of its electricity from clean sources in 2025, just above the global average of 42.6%. Wind and solar accounted for 19% of total electricity generation, slightly above the global average of 17%.

Fossil fuels generated 57% of US electricity in 2025, primarily from gas (40%), followed by coal (16%). While the overall fossil share in the US (57.0%) was similar to the global average (57.4%), the US relies more heavily on gas, with a share of generation (40%) almost twice the global average (22%).

Energy storage continues to expand across the US. In 2025, battery energy storage system (BESS) installations surpassed 57 GWh, a year-on-year increase of 29%. At the state level, California increased its BESS capacity to 17 GW by October 2025, two and a half times its level at the end of 2022. Texas surpassed 15 GW by September 2025, more than 11 times its 2022 level.

The US power sector is undergoing a policy shift, with support for low-cost renewable technologies being scaled back in favour of measures to sustain fossil fuel development. Nevertheless, wind and solar still met 74% of electricity demand growth in the US in 2025.

Despite similar fossil shares, US carbon intensity in 2025 (384 gCO2e/kWh) was below the global average (458 gCO2e/kWh), reflecting the country’s heavier reliance on gas over coal, a fuel with lower emissions intensity.

Per capita electricity demand in the US reached 13.1 MWh in 2025, more than three times the global average (3.9 MWh), roughly double the EU average (6.2 MWh), and 75% higher than China’s (7.5 MWh).

Per capita power sector emissions in the US stood at 5 tCO2e in 2025, nearly three times the global average of 1.8 tCO2e.

Electricity demand in the EU increased by a modest 0.5% (+13.5 TWh) in 2025, below the 2024 increase of 1.9%.

Solar had the largest absolute increase in electricity generation in the EU in 2025, growing by 20% (+60 TWh). The EU added over 65 GW of new solar capacity in 2025, nearly equally split between utility-scale solar farms and rooftop installations.

Wind generation declined by 2.5% (-12 TWh) in 2025, following a modest increase of 2.8% in 2024. Exceptionally low wind speeds at the start of the year led to a dip in generation in the early months of 2025. However, a return to normal wind conditions later in the year, along with further fleet expansion, meant wind remained the EU’s second-largest electricity source, at 17% of generation. The EU’s wind capacity continued to expand, growing by 6% (+13 GW) in 2024 and a further 6% (+15 GW) in 2025.

EU hydro generation declined by 43 TWh (-12%) in 2025, following an exceptionally strong year in 2024. Hydro generation in 2025 was 21 TWh (-6%) lower than in 2020.

Fossil generation increased by 2.2% (+18 TWh) in 2025, as declines in coal were offset by increases in gas generation.

Coal generation declined by 5% (-14 TWh) in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Coal now generates 9.2% of EU electricity, down from 16% in 2022.

EU gas generation rose by 8% (+34 TWh) in 2025, though it remained 18% below its most recent peak in 2019. The increase in gas generation was mainly driven by lower hydro output due to reduced rainfall. Higher gas generation drove the EU power sector’s gas import bill to €32 billion in 2025, 16% higher than the previous year.

Nuclear generation increased by 0.4% (+2.9 TWh) in the EU in 2025, following an increase of 4.8% in 2024.

Electricity demand in the EU has remained relatively flat in recent years. At 2,774 TWh in 2025, demand remained below pre-pandemic levels (2,877 TWh in 2019), despite a rebound in 2021.

The past four years have seen a rapid rise in wind and solar generation in the EU, growing by 54% (+296 TWh) from 2021 to 2025. Combined, they now account for nearly a third (30%) of EU electricity generation, up from 19% in 2021.

EU solar generation more than doubled in four years, from 163 TWh in 2021 to 367 TWh in 2025. Despite limited solar potential and political hurdles, solar power generation in Central Europe, a region once heavily dependent on coal, has grown at twice the EU average rate since 2019.

Despite a small increase last year, EU fossil generation declined by 24% (-257 TWh) between 2021 and 2025, with its share falling from 37% to 29% in the same period.

Coal generation accounted for almost two-thirds of the EU’s fossil power decline (-162 TWh) since 2021. Nineteen EU countries now have less than 5% or no coal in their power mix, with Ireland ending coal generation in June 2025 and Finland in April 2025.

Gas generation accounted for almost a third of the EU’s fossil power decline (-81 TWh) since 2021. While gas generation increased in 2025 compared with 2024, it has declined by 15% over the past four years overall. Nevertheless, the EU remains heavily reliant on imported fossil gas, with implications for energy security and geopolitical stability. While the EU has passed a full ban on imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027, a new dependency has emerged with rising imports of US LNG. Recent gas market volatility linked to the US-Israel war with Iran has further highlighted the EU’s continued exposure.

The EU’s electricity transition continues to gather pace. Solar generation overtook coal generation in 2024. In 2025, wind and solar exceeded fossil fuels for the first time, after drawing level in 2024.

Power sector emissions in the EU peaked in 2007 at 1,217 MtCO2e and have halved since then (587 MtCO2e in 2025), despite a small increase in 2025 compared with 2024 (+0.2%).

With rapid growth in wind and solar, alongside a steep decline in coal, the EU has cemented its position as a global leader in clean power. The EU generated 71% of its electricity from clean sources in 2025, well above the global average of 43%.

Wind is the EU’s second largest source of power at 17.1%, double the global average of 8.5%. Among countries generating more than 5 TWh from wind globally, nine of the ten with the highest wind shares are in the EU.

Solar contributed 13.1% of EU electricity in 2025, a significant increase from 5.3% in 2020, well above the global average of 8.7%, and ahead of both the US (8.6%) and China (11.1%). Hydropower accounted for 11.7%.

The EU’s largest single source of electricity is nuclear, at 23%, more than double the global average. Eight of the ten countries with the highest nuclear shares globally are in the EU.

Fossil generation accounted for 29% of the EU electricity mix in 2025, unchanged from 2024 and roughly half the global share of 57%. Gas was the EU’s third-largest source of electricity at 16.7%, while coal’s share was 9.2%.

The carbon intensity of electricity generation in the EU was 210 gCO2e/kWh in 2025, broadly unchanged from 2024 (211 gCO2e/kWh) and less than half the global average (458 gCO2e/kWh).

Per capita electricity demand in the EU was 6.2 MWh, less than half that of the US (13.1 MWh), slightly below China’s (7.5 MWh), but still 60% above the global average of 3.9 MWh.

Although demand per capita in the EU is higher than the global average, its per capita power sector emissions are lower (1.3 tCO2e, compared to 1.8 tCO2e globally), reflecting a higher share of clean generation. EU per capita power sector emissions have almost halved over the past 15 years, falling from 2.5 tCO2e in 2010 to 1.3 tCO2e in 2025. Over the same period, the global average increased slightly, from 1.7 tCO2e in 2010 to 1.8 tCO2e in 2025.

India’s power demand increased by 49 TWh in 2025 (+2.4%). This was less than half the demand growth of 118 TWh (+6.2%) in 2024, and well below the 4.9% average annual growth rate recorded in the previous decade (2015 to 2024). India experienced very mild summer temperatures in 2025, in contrast to a record-hot 2024, leading to an estimated 32 TWh reduction in cooling demand. Industrial demand also slowed in 2025. India’s GDP growth was 6.6% in 2025, similar to the 6.5% growth in 2024.

India’s renewable generation grew twice as much as demand, increasing by 98 TWh in 2025. This was primarily driven by strong growth in solar (+53 TWh), followed by wind (+22 TWh) and hydro (+21 TWh). Combined, wind and solar growth reached 75 TWh, more than double the previous record of 32 TWh in 2022.

India achieved the world’s third-largest increase in solar generation (+53 TWh, +37%) in 2025. Capacity additions also reached a record of 38 GW(AC) in 2025, a 54% increase from 2024. For the first time, India installed more solar capacity than the US in 2025. India introduced a new rooftop-PV support scheme in 2024, which continued into 2025, and has spurred faster deployment. Distributed solar accounted for an estimated 22 TWh of the 53 TWh solar increase in 2025, a significantly higher increase than in previous years.

India also recorded the world’s second-largest increase in both wind and hydro generation. Wind generation growth (+22 TWh, +28%) in 2025 nearly doubled the previous record of 12 TWh in 2023. Hydro generation rebounded strongly, increasing by 21 TWh (+14%) in 2025, primarily due to strong monsoon rainfall. This followed modest growth in 2024 (+4.8%) and a decline in 2023 (-15%). India added 6.3 GW of wind capacity and 4 GW of hydro capacity in 2025.

India’s coal generation declined by 44 TWh (-2.9%) in 2025 as a result of the surge in renewables and lower-than-average demand growth. Coal’s share of India’s electricity generation fell to 71% in 2025 from 75% in 2024.

After India’s fall in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, demand growth returned to higher levels, surpassing 5% every year from 2021 to 2024. The lower growth in 2025 was likely an outlier due to weather conditions, with underlying structural demand growth expectations remaining high.

In 2025, solar generation became the largest source of clean electricity in India, overtaking hydropower for the first time. Solar output more than doubled in the three years since 2022, from 96 TWh to 196 TWh in 2025. Solar accounted for 9.4% of India’s electricity mix in 2025, up from 5.3% in 2022. India was the world’s third-largest solar generator in 2025.

Hydropower was India’s second-largest clean power source in 2025, accounting for 8.6% of the electricity mix. Hydro’s share has declined slightly over the last two decades, from 13.8% in 2005, as its growth has not kept pace with growing electricity demand. However, absolute output reached a new record high of 178 TWh in 2025, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 (175 TWh).

India’s wind power has more than tripled in the last ten years, from 33 TWh in 2015 to 104 TWh in 2025. The record increase in 2025 (+22 TWh) alone accounted for nearly a third of the increase in the last decade. In 2025, India overtook the United Kingdom to become the world’s fifth-largest wind generator.

Despite the fall in coal power in India last year, coal generation has increased by 468 TWh (+46%) over the last decade and continues to dominate India’s electricity mix. India remains the second-largest coal generator globally, behind China.

India is the world’s third-largest power sector emitter at 1,395 MtCO2e in 2025. This is a slight decline (-2.9%) from 2024 (1,437 MtCO2e), driven by a fall in fossil generation.

Coal provided 71% of India’s electricity in 2025, above the Asian average of 52% and the global average of 33%.

Clean generation accounted for 27% of India’s electricity mix in 2025, up from 22% in 2024. Wind and solar together contributed 14% of generation in 2025, below the global average of 17% and China’s share of 22%.

Looking ahead, India plans to triple its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW from 2022 to 2030, and is considering increasing this target. As of October 2025, India has installed over 250 GW of renewable capacity. The transition is currently driven mainly by solar installations and supportive domestic policies – particularly for energy storage, where a significant pipeline of projects is already underway. Market auctions are also evolving to prioritise firm and dispatchable renewable energy, pairing wind and solar with storage to better match load profiles.

The carbon intensity of India’s power sector was 670 gCO2e/kWh in 2025, a substantial decline from 705 gCO2e/kWh in 2024. This remains higher than the Asian average of 544 gCO2e/kWh and the global average of 458 gCO2e/kWh, owing to the relatively high share of coal in the mix.

Per capita electricity demand in India was 1.4 MWh, significantly below the average in Asia (3.8 MWh) and the world (3.9 MWh). India had the world’s third-highest total electricity demand in 2025, yet it is the world’s most populous country.

Despite the high carbon intensity of India’s power sector, lower per capita demand keeps per capita power sector emissions relatively small at just 1.0 tCO2e – a quarter of China’s (3.9 tCO2e) and slightly above half of the world average (1.8 tCO2e).

Electricity demand in Russia declined by 17 TWh (-1.4%) in 2025. Russia experienced unusually warm winter temperatures in early 2025, including its warmest January on record. According to Ember analysis, over two-thirds (12 TWh) of Russia’s decline in demand in 2025 can be attributed to temperature-driven reductions in cooling and heating demand, with most of this due to reduced heating demand in January.

Russia’s fossil generation declined by 7.6 TWh (-1%) in 2025. Gas generation alone fell 13 TWh (-2.3%), but was partly offset by an increase in coal generation of 4.4 TWh (+2%). This was Russia’s first decline in fossil generation since 2020, but also the fifth consecutive year of coal growth.

Russia’s clean generation declined by 9 TWh (-2%) in 2025, driven by a fall in hydro generation (-11 TWh; -5%), following hydro growth in both 2023 and 2024 when conditions were more favourable. Nuclear generation increased by 2.9 TWh (+1.4%) after a small decline in 2024 (-1.7 TWh). Solar and wind remain minimally developed in Russia and play a very small role in electricity generation. The last renewables auction was held in 2021. In 2025, neither wind nor solar generation increased.

Russia’s 1.4% fall in electricity demand last year came after four consecutive years of growth (2021-2024). It marked the first annual demand contraction since the 2.3% decline during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.

Russia’s share of clean generation, primarily from nuclear and hydro, remained at 36% in 2025, similar to pre-pandemic levels. Consequently, the country’s share of fossil generation is unchanged at 64%.

Russia’s power sector emissions have risen by 9% since pre-pandemic levels in 2019. However, emissions in 2025 remained broadly similar to 2024 levels (falling only 2.9 MtCO2e, or 0.5%), driven by weather-related demand reductions rather than structural changes in the power sector.

Russia has yet to meaningfully participate in the global electricity transition. Wind and solar remain marginal, accounting for less than 1% of the country’s electricity generation in 2025. This is well below China (22%), Europe (21%), India (14%) and the global average (17%).

Fossil fuels accounted for 64% of Russia’s electricity generation in 2025, higher than the global average (57%) and higher than in China (58%). Gas was the largest component of Russia’s fossil generation, providing 45% of the country’s electricity – higher than in the US (40%) and double the global average (22%).

Clean power accounted for 36% of Russia’s electricity mix, almost entirely from hydro (17%) and nuclear (18%).

Russia’s carbon intensity of electricity was 450 gCO2e/kWh in 2025, slightly below the global average of 458 gCO2e/kWh.

Russia’s per capita electricity demand was 8.2 MWh, more than twice the global average (3.9 MWh) and a third higher than the European average (6.1 MWh).

Although per capita electricity demand in Russia is only a third higher than the European average, its per capita power sector emissions (3.7 tCO2e) are more than twice as large as the European average of 1.7 tCO2e.

Japan’s electricity demand increased by 1.3% (+13.4 TWh) in 2025, slightly higher than the 1.0% increase in 2024. In 2025, Japan experienced both the hottest summer on record and a cold winter. According to Ember’s analysis of temperature data, an estimated 10 TWh of the country’s demand increase can be attributed to higher heating needs in the winter compared with 2024.

Clean generation in Japan increased by 18.3 TWh (+5.8%) in 2025, with roughly equal contributions from renewables (+9.1 TWh, +3.9%) and nuclear generation (+9.2 TWh, +10.8%). Within renewables, bioenergy increased by 9.0 TWh (+19.9%), solar by 4.4 TWh (+4.5%) and wind by 1.3 TWh (+11.4%), while hydro generation fell by 5.6 TWh (-7.0%). Clean generation more than met the increase in Japan’s demand in 2025.

Although modest in absolute terms, Japan’s wind generation growth in 2025 was its second-largest annual rise ever recorded. Wind deployment has increased slightly in recent years. The country added 570 MW of new wind capacity in 2025, following on from 510 MW in 2024.

Fossil generation in Japan declined in 2025 (-4.9 TWh, -0.7%). Gas generation fell by 8.5 TWh (-2.4%), while coal increased by 2.5 TWh (+0.8%).

Electricity demand has been relatively stable in Japan over the past ten years, with no net change from 2015 to 2025. Over the same period, clean generation rose by 178 TWh, displacing an equal amount of fossil generation.

Japan’s low-carbon generation has been rising steadily since a sharp fall after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident, which led to the shutdown of all the country’s nuclear reactors. In 2025, clean generation reached 336 TWh, but has yet to return to the pre-Fukushima level of 411 TWh in 2010.

Solar’s contribution to Japan’s electricity mix has nearly tripled over the last decade (3.4% in 2015 to 9.8% in 2025). However, wind generation still lags significantly, providing just 1.3% of Japan’s electricity despite strong potential.

Japan’s power sector emissions peaked in 2012 at 658 MtCO2e. Since then, emissions have declined by 25%, to 492 MtCO2e in 2025.

In 2025, Japan relied on fossil fuels for 67% of its electricity generation. This is higher than the Asian (63%) and global (57%) averages, and above China (58%).

The high share of fossil fuels is largely from gas (33% of the mix) and coal (32%). Given that Japan relies almost entirely on imports for coal and gas power, transitioning to solar and wind enhances the country’s energy security.

Japan’s solar share reached 9.8% in 2025, slightly below China’s solar share of 11.1%. However, it remains higher than the Asian (9.7%) and global (8.7%) averages.

Wind accounts for 1.3% of Japan’s generation, far behind the Asian (7.8%) and global (8.5%) averages.

Japan’s share of nuclear generation reached 9.1% in 2025, up from under 2% during 2012-2016, though still below the pre-Fukushima share of 25% in 2010. Further growth is expected, as Japan’s 7th long-term strategic energy plan aims for a 20% nuclear share by 2040.

Japan remains the world’s fifth-largest power sector emitter. While it is the world’s fourth-largest solar generator, Japan lags behind in wind generation. It is estimated that offshore wind could provide 18% of Japan’s electricity by 2035. As such, Japan has yet to unlock its massive untapped wind potential, which would accelerate its electricity transition.

The carbon intensity of Japan’s power sector in 2025 was 477 gCO2e/kWh, the lowest in the past 15 years. It was slightly higher than the global average of 458 gCO2e/kWh, but lower than the Asian average (544 gCO2e/kWh). This reflects a higher ratio of gas to coal in the fossil generation mix than the average across Asia.

Japan’s per capita electricity demand of 8.4 MWh is more than double the global average (3.9 MWh) and the Asian average (3.8 MWh).

Despite moderate carbon intensity, Japan’s relatively high demand contributes to elevated per capita emissions. Japan’s per capita power sector emissions were 4 tCO2e in 2025, more than double the global average (1.8 tCO2e) and almost double the Asian average (2.1 tCO2e).

Electricity demand in Brazil increased by only 0.6% (+5 TWh) in 2025, the lowest annual increase since the Covid-related decline in 2020 and a small fraction of the rise in 2024 (+35 TWh). Milder temperatures reduced electricity demand for cooling by an estimated 8 TWh, contributing to lower demand growth.

Brazil’s electricity system remains one of the cleanest in the world, with the majority of generation coming from renewable sources. In 2025, growth in solar (+17 TWh, +24%) and wind (+9 TWh, +8%) was more than sufficient to meet the increase in Brazil’s demand, although part of this gain was offset by lower hydro generation.

Brazil recorded the world’s fourth-largest increase for both solar and wind generation in 2025 and ranks fourth globally in total wind generation and sixth in total solar generation. In 2025, Brazil added 10 GW(AC) of solar capacity and 2 GW of wind capacity.

Brazil’s hydro generation declined by 25 TWh (-6%) in 2025, after already declining in 2024 (-13 TWh, -3%), amid prolonged drought conditions. However, output remained higher than during the record droughts of 2021. Bioenergy generation also fell slightly (-3.1 TWh, -5.4%).

Brazil’s fossil generation increased by 6 TWh (+7.6%) in 2025. This growth was driven primarily by higher gas generation (+6.1 TWh, +12%), which partly compensated for hydro’s decline. Brazil also brought new gas-fired power plants online in 2024 and 2025.

Brazil has historically benefited from large hydropower resources. While hydro output has remained relatively stable over the past 15 years, its share of the electricity mix is now declining. This reflects a combination of limited new capacity additions and recurring droughts, while electricity demand continued to grow. Hydro capacity factors (the average output per unit of capacity) have also declined in the last two decades as a result of changes in plant design and usage. An increasing number of Brazil’s hydro plants are run-of-river, which lack large reservoirs, making them more susceptible to hydrological conditions, and typically have lower capacity factors. As solar generation has expanded, Brazil is seeing stronger midday output, meaning that hydro plants often reduce output during the day and shift towards balancing and ramping roles outside sunlight hours.

Wind and solar have grown considerably in Brazil, with a particularly rapid rise in solar. Solar generation reached 89 TWh in 2025, increasing more than fivefold from 17 TWh in 2021, and overtaking fossil generation for the first time. Over the same period, the country’s solar share rose from 2.6% to 11.8%.

Brazil’s wind growth started earlier. In the last decade, the country’s wind generation grew from 22 TWh in 2015 to 118 TWh in 2025, with its share rising from 3.7% to 15.7%. Solar and wind could achieve even higher levels, but are in part limited by rising curtailment rates.

Bioenergy, which mostly utilises sugarcane bagasse, peaked at 9.3% of Brazil’s electricity in 2020 before declining to 7.3% in 2025. This decline coincided with the rapid expansion of solar generation, particularly distributed generation, which has grown quickly in Brazil.

Brazil’s power sector emissions peaked in 2014 at 114 MtCO2e. The rise of wind and solar has helped prevent large fossil spikes during drought-related declines in hydropower, avoiding increases in power sector emissions. In 2025, Brazil’s power sector emissions were 28% below the 2014 peak at 83 MtCO2e.

Brazil is both a regional leader in renewable electricity and the clear leader among G20 countries. Brazil generated 87% of its electricity from renewables in 2025, more than 20 percentage points higher than second-place Canada at 64%. Brazil’s share of renewables is also far above other major economies such as China (37%), the US (26%) and India (24%).

Hydropower still leads the country’s electricity mix at 52%, down from around 90% in the early 2000s. Meanwhile, its share of wind and solar reached 27%, well above both the global average of 17% and Latin America’s average of 19%. This growth in wind and solar reflects the increasing diversification of Brazil’s electricity system beyond hydropower.

Due to its high share of renewables, Brazil’s carbon intensity of electricity generation of 110 gCO2e/kWh is roughly a quarter of the global average (458 gCO2e/kWh) and less than half the regional average in Latin America (247 gCO2e/kWh).

Brazil’s per capita electricity demand was 3.6 MWh in 2025, slightly below the global average of 3.9 MWh but above the Latin American average of 2.8 MWh.

Brazil’s per capita power sector emissions were 0.4 tCO2e in 2025. This was less than a quarter of the global average (1.8 tCO2e) and just over half the regional average (0.7 tCO2e). Brazil has the second-lowest per capita emissions of any G20 country, just behind France, thanks to its renewables-dominated electricity mix.

Over the past decade in Brazil’s power system, per capita demand has increased by 17%, while per capita emissions have fallen by 28%, highlighting how renewables have enabled demand growth without increasing power sector emissions.