As of late 2025, the global energy transition has reached a historic tipping point. For the first time, renewable energy has overtaken coal as the largest source of global electricity generation, driven primarily by record-breaking deployment in China, the U.S., and India.
While China leads in absolute volume, the U.S. and India are demonstrating distinct structural and growth advantages. Below is the comparative data for 2024–2025 across these three major power markets.
Table of Contents
Power Sector Comparison (2024–2025 Data)
| Metric (2024/2025) | China | United States | India |
| Global Demand Share | ~33% | ~14% | ~7% |
| Clean Energy Share | 38% (2024) → ~42% (2025) | 41.9% (2024) | 22.5% (2024) |
| Wind & Solar Share | 18.1% | 17.2% | 10.5% |
| Fossil Fuel Share | 62% (Mostly Coal) | 58.1% (Mostly Gas) | 77.5% (Mostly Coal) |
| Renewable Growth Rate | 15% (2024–2030 proj.) | ~12% (2024–2030 proj.) | 16% (World Leader) |
The United States: The Gas-to-Clean Transition
The U.S. remains a global leader in decarbonization through structural shifts rather than just new additions.
- Decarbonization Leader: Between 2017 and 2024, the US saw the world’s largest absolute reduction in energy emissions, primarily by retiring coal plants in favor of natural gas and renewables.
- Solar Surge: In 2024, solar power surpassed hydropower for the first time in U.S. history. By mid-2025, renewables accounted for 91% of all new generation capacity added to the grid.
- The AI Challenge: A massive surge in power demand from AI data centers has created a “dash for power.” Tech giants are struggling to balance their 100% renewable goals with the immediate need for natural gas to maintain grid stability during peak AI processing times.
- Energy Storage: The U.S. is scaling batteries at an unprecedented rate; 2025 installations surpassed the total for all of 2024 by October.
India: The Fastest-Growing Market
India is currently the “accelerator” of the global energy transition, posting the highest growth rates in the world.
- Growth Powerhouse: India is projected to be the fastest-growing renewable market through 2030, with a 16% annual growth rate in capacity.
- Coal vs. Clean: While 77.5% of India’s power still comes from fossil fuels, the role of coal is shrinking. In 2024, coal met only 64% of demand growth, a sharp decline from 91% the previous year.
- Solar Dominance: India recently overtook Germany to become the world’s third-largest generator of wind and solar electricity.
- Per Capita Context: Despite rising total emissions, India’s per capita emissions remain well below the global average because its individual electricity use is significantly lower than that of China or the U.S.
Summary: The “Global Race”
While China is often called the “Electrostate” due to its sheer manufacturing volume (it accounts for 60% of all new global renewable capacity), the 2025 data shows a more nuanced race. India is the fastest accelerator, and the United States is undergoing the most significant structural shift away from a carbon-heavy legacy.
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