Solar photovoltaic (PV) power was the largest driver of global energy demand growth in 2025, surpassing fossil fuels for the first time on record as electricity systems accelerated toward cleaner sources, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Energy Review 2026.
The IEA said solar PV met more than 25% of the increase in global energy demand in 2025, followed by natural gas, which accounted for 17%.
“Solar PV, the largest single source of growth, met more than 25% of higher demand, followed by natural gas, which contributed 17%. This was the first time on record that a modern renewable source contributed the largest share of global energy demand growth,” the report published in April stated.
The agency said demand for oil, natural gas, and coal still increased in 2025, but at a slower pace compared with 2024, as electrification continued to reshape global energy consumption patterns.
Global electricity demand grew by around 3% in 2025, or about 800 terawatt-hours (TWh), driven by industry, household consumption, electric vehicles, and data centers. The IEA said electricity demand was growing about 2.3 times faster than total energy demand.
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In contrast, solar generation rose by a record 600 TWh in 2025, bringing total output to nearly 2,700 TWh and lifting its share of global electricity generation to more than 8%.
“This was more than double its output in 2022 and brings solar PV’s share in total global electricity generation to over 8%. The absolute increase of solar PV generation in 2025 is the largest ever observed for any source, excluding years marked by rebounds from global economic shocks such as Covid-19,” the IEA said.
It added that the increase was global in scale, with strong gains in China, the United States, India, and the Middle East, where solar output rose by at least 20% in major markets.
In Guyana, solar generation capacity is steadily expanding as part of the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030. A growing network of solar farms and mini-grids is being rolled out across several regions.
The move also coincides with the Gas-to-Energy project, which is expected to give the nation 300 MW of gas-fired power, replacing heavy fuel oil as the main source. Scheduled to be operational by the end of 2026, the project is expected to slash emissions associated with power generation.
