Global electricity markets reached a notable inflection point in April 2026, as generation from wind and solar exceeded gas-fired power for the first time, according to new data from Ember.
Together, wind and solar delivered 22% of global electricity output, overtaking gas at 20%, based on Ember’s latest analysis.
In absolute terms, renewable generation outpaced gas by 54TWh during the month.
The figures arrive against a backdrop of volatile gas supply and pricing, reinforcing the shifting economics of power generation and casting doubt on the long-term reliance on imported fossil fuels. They also suggest that any short-term return to coal during the energy crisis has been relatively contained.
“Countries around the world have been turning to wind and solar because they are cheap, homegrown and secure sources of electricity,” says Kostantsa Rangelova, Global Electricity Analyst at Ember.
