Wind and solar produced more electricity than gas globally for the first time in April 2026, according to data analyzed by the research center Ember.
Together, wind and solar accounted for 22% of global electricity generation in April 2026, while gas contributed 20%.
– This milestone occurred during the first full month of the latest global energy crisis triggered by conflict in the Middle East, highlighting how the rapid growth of wind and solar is reshaping the global power mix even amid fossil fuel market instability – Ember stated, emphasizing that there is no evidence of a widespread shift from gas to coal globally, despite ongoing concerns about energy security.
Five Years Ago, Gas Output Was Twice That of Wind and Solar
Wind and solar generated a record 531 TWh of electricity in April 2026, 54 TWh more than gas, which produced 477 TWh. Five years earlier, in April 2021, gas generation was at a similar level (476 TWh), but nearly double the combined output of wind and solar (245 TWh).
Globally, electricity generation is estimated to have risen by 13% compared to the same period last year, with growth across major markets such as China (+14%), the EU (+13%), the UK (+35%), the US (+8%), Australia (+17%), Chile (+24%), and Brazil (+4%).
Countries Worldwide Turning to Wind and Solar
Data for April 2026 confirm the continuation of the long-term trend of clean energy growth, led by wind and solar, which in 2025 met the entire increase in global electricity demand, as Ember noted in its Global Electricity Review.
The April result is part of a broader trend and not a reaction to the current energy crisis, but it comes at a crucial moment: rising wind and solar generation is helping many crisis-affected countries reduce dependence on gas imports.
– Countries around the world are turning to wind and solar because they represent cheap, domestic, and secure sources of electricity. The current energy crisis has further strengthened the economic case for renewables compared to imported gas, while also increasing the political urgency to accelerate their deployment. For many energy-importing nations, LNG-based electricity generation is finding it increasingly difficult to compete with wind and solar – Ember stated.
The organization reminds that governments worldwide are adopting plans to accelerate renewable energy development in order to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuels.
Among the latest announcements, Ember highlights Indonesia’s plan to develop 100 GW of solar capacity with storage, South Korea’s plan to triple renewable capacity to 100 GW by 2030, and efforts to fast-track renewable projects in countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, and the UK.
Ember’s analysis is based on reported data from 36 countries and conservative estimates for those that have not yet published figures for April 2026.
Foto: Pixabay/Joe
