Renewables surge worldwide in 2025 as Europe and Brazil boost capacity

A 2025 report by the Energy Institute shows total global energy supply rose 1.7%, with renewable sources accounting for the bulk of the increase and all major fuels reaching historic highs. In the European Union, renewable electricity grew 1.4% to 11.5 million TJ, while coal fell to its lowest level since records began in 1990; natural gas rebounded 2.3% and nuclear edged up 0.2%. Solar power expanded sharply, with the United Kingdom posting a 37% jump and the United States a 28% rise in solar generation. Battery storage capacity rose 66%, underscoring its role in the clean‑energy transition.

Brazil’s bio‑energy sector is also expanding: projections for the 2025/26 harvest suggest cereal‑based ethanol could near 10 billion litres, driven by flexible‑feedstock refineries and new biorefineries in the Matopiba region. Solar installations in Porto Alegre have cut roughly 37 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, illustrating the environmental benefits of distributed solar generation. In the Balkans, Romania and Bulgaria are emerging as leading markets for energy‑storage projects, according to participants at Intersolar Europe in Munich.

Overall, the data reflect a broad shift toward renewable electricity, higher storage capacity, and diversified bio‑fuel production across multiple continents.