IEA data shows solar accounted for more than 25% of global primary energy supply growth in 2025, the first time any modern renewable led this metric (IEA Global Energy Review 2026; Electrek 2026). Global electricity demand rose 3% while total energy demand grew 1.3%, driven by data centers, EVs, and building electrification (IEA Global Energy Review 2026).

Solar added 600 TWh of generation, the largest single-year increase for any power technology, pushing coal-fired output lower; battery storage grew fastest with 110 GW added (IEA Global Energy Review 2026; BloombergNEF 2025). Renewables and nuclear supplied nearly 60% of total energy demand growth (IEA Global Energy Review 2026). Prior IEA outlooks from 2023 projected slower solar scaling and higher coal persistence in Asia (IEA World Energy Outlook 2023).

Data-center demand linked to AI compute was cited but not connected to long-term grid stability in initial coverage; Goldman Sachs estimates AI-related electricity load could reach 160 TWh annually by 2030, concentrated where solar+battery pairs are scaling (Goldman Sachs 2025; NREL Grid Integration 2025). CO2 emissions rose 0.4% overall, declining in China and flat in India while advancing economies saw +0.5% from winter fuel shifts (IEA Global Energy Review 2026).