Solar is winning the growth race, but gas is still in it
Five charts to start the day
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The energy transition is no longer a distant promise. Solar PV met 27% of global energy demand growth in 2025, more than any other source and the first time a modern renewable has led the increase in primary energy supply. Low emissions sources together supplied nearly 60% of the growth.
But this is not a clean break from fossil fuels. Natural gas still supplied 17% of the increase, oil 15% and coal 9%. The world is adding clean energy at record speed, but it is also adding demand fast enough to keep fossil fuels in the mix.
That is the tension inside the chart. Solar is now powerful enough to lead growth, yet not powerful enough to displace the old system outright. The transition is happening, but it is being layered on top of rising consumption rather than replacing it cleanly.
Source: International Energy Agency
A hotter planet changes food systems. Food prices change household behaviour. Workplaces shape mental health. Energy demand shapes geopolitics, inflation and the climate itself.
This is why charts matter. They do not just show numbers. They reveal the hidden plumbing between systems we usually discuss separately.
I’ve got four more charts that expand on this story, but they’re for paid subscribers. Consider joining if you want the full edition.
