13 October 2025, Indian Express Editorial Analysis (Renewable Energy)

Renewable energy has made strides in 2025. Challenge lies in sustaining growth

Ember report of the global power sector emphasises that several developing countries face capital and capacity-related constraints, and that support from mature economies is essential to hasten the technology transition.

Renewables have edged out coal as the biggest source of electricity in the first half of this year, according to the Ember report of the global power sector. The trends suggested by the report, published last week, may not be conclusive enough to rule out the influential hypothesis that the increasing deployment of clean energy will not necessarily lead to a decline in fossil fuel use over the long-term. Yet, the marginal difference — barely 1 per cent — between polluting and non-polluting sources of power is encouraging because renewables have made inroads amid a growing appetite for electricity in a world roiled by geopolitical crises that have deeply impacted the energy market. The report highlights that record solar-power generation and a steady expansion of wind energy helped renewables keep pace with the increasing demand for electricity to power traditional industrial units, keep buildings cool in the face of rising temperatures, drive electric vehicles, and operate new sources of economic activity, such as data centres.

The fine print of the Ember report, however, reveals both positives and negatives. Much of the growth in clean energy has come in China, where a growing fleet of solar-powered stations has outpaced coal energy plants. In India too, the clean-energy graph is headed northward, and the country is on course to become the second-largest renewables market by 2030. In several developing countries in Asia and Africa, policies that encourage the development of green-technology solar power have driven a climate-friendly energy transition. The outlook, however, is not that rosy in most parts of the developed world. In Europe, poor wind conditions and drought precipitated a more than 14 per cent rise in fossil-fuel electricity generation, reminding policymakers that much needs to be done to mitigate the precarity of renewable energy. In the US, clean-energy policies have hit a roadblock, largely because of President Donald Trump’s climate denialism and his strident advocacy of fossil fuels. In July, the Congress voted to phase out the tax credit support for wind and solar power. The International Energy Agency has lowered America’s renewable capacity growth expectations by 50 per cent compared to last year. The agency reckons that the attainment of its global target for 2030 will largely depend on how developed countries overcome the recent barriers to climate adaptation.

The report emphasises that many of the tools to hasten the technology transition are available. However, it also points out that several developing countries face capital and capacity-related constraints. “Support from mature economies, particularly those with historic emissions, is crucial to overcoming these barriers and reaching the net zero target,” it notes. The history of climate negotiations shows that such aid is usually difficult to come by. Catalysts for change could instead be the India-led International Solar Alliance or the Chinese renewables manufacturing system, which is already bringing down solar energy costs in several parts of the world.

Overall Analysis

This editorial offers a balanced assessment of the global renewable energy landscape in 2025, drawing primarily on findings from the Ember report on the power sector. The tone is analytical and cautiously optimistic — acknowledging progress in clean energy adoption while underlining structural and political challenges that could slow momentum.

The opening paragraph sets the premise with a striking milestone: renewables have overtaken coal as the world’s largest source of electricity. However, the author avoids triumphalism by calling the margin “barely 1 per cent,” suggesting that this progress, though historic, remains fragile. The language reflects a nuanced perspective — verbs like “edged out” and “made inroads” show progress through persistence rather than dominance. The mention of “geopolitical crises” and “growing appetite for electricity” situates the energy shift within broader global pressures, giving the piece economic and political depth.

In the second paragraph, the editorial moves into comparative analysis. It praises countries such as China and India for driving renewable expansion, using positive imagery like “headed northward” to convey steady advancement. However, the tone shifts midway — a subtle rhetorical contrast appears as the author highlights stagnation in the developed world, especially the United States and Europe. The structure of the paragraph itself mirrors the imbalance it describes: early optimism tempered by realism. Phrases like “poor wind conditions,” “climate denialism,” and “roadblock” create a rhythm of impediment, stressing that technology alone cannot overcome political inertia or natural limitations.

Overall, the editorial blends factual reporting with interpretative commentary, using clear transitions and balanced tone to present renewable energy as both a global success story and an ongoing struggle requiring political will, financial equity, and international collaboration.

Important Vocabulary (5)

Inroads – significant progress or advances into a new area.
Precarity – instability or insecurity, especially in systems dependent on uncertain conditions.
Denialism – refusal to accept established facts or scientific evidence.
Catalysts – factors or agents that accelerate change.
Net zero – a state where greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by absorption or removal from the atmosphere.

Conclusion & Tone

The editorial concludes that while 2025 marks a pivotal year for renewable energy, sustaining this progress demands stronger commitment from advanced economies and coordinated global action. Technological breakthroughs must be matched by equitable financing and political resolve to achieve true climate resilience.

Tone: Analytical, balanced, and cautiously optimistic — blending factual rigor with a call for sustained global cooperation.