Environment & Climate
Solar globally overtook nuclear power in 2025, according to Ember data
Hacker News reports that solar now produces more electricity than nuclear globally, citing Ember and BBC analysis.
The short version
- Global solar generation overtook nuclear power in 2025, according to Ember statistics.[Hacker News]
- BBC analysis of Ember data shows solar producing 13% more power than nuclear over the year to September 2026.[Hacker News]
- Solar met three-quarters of the growth in global electricity demand in 2025, passing wind generation.[Hacker News]
Key facts
- Global solar electricity generation overtook nuclear power in 2025, according to statistics from the UK-based energy think tank Ember.[Hacker News]
- BBC analysis of Ember data over the 12 months up to September 2026 shows solar producing 13% more power than nuclear.[Hacker News]
- Solar became the cheapest electricity in history in 2020.[Hacker News]
- Researchers calculated that rising US wind and solar generation brought $249bn in climate and health benefits between 2019 and 2022.[Hacker News]
- In 2025, solar met three-quarters of the growth in world electricity demand, overtaking wind power generation.[Hacker News]
What remains uncertain
- The 2025 crossover was marginal, with the source describing solar as only just overtaking nuclear.[Hacker News]
- The claim that solar will overtake nuclear in 2026 is a projection the source describes as almost certain, not a measured result.[Hacker News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.