Wind and solar overtake gas in global electricity generation in April

From pv magazine España

Wind and solar generation together surpassed electricity produced from natural gas globally for the first time over a full month in April 2026, according to analysis by UK energy think tank Ember.

Combined wind and solar output reached a record 531 TWh in April, exceeding gas-fired generation by 54 TWh, which totaled 477 TWh. Together, wind and solar accounted for 22% of global electricity generation, compared with 20% from gas.

The milestone marks a sharp structural shift compared with April 2021, when gas generation stood at 476 TWh – roughly equal to current levels – but was still more than double the combined output of wind and solar at 245 TWh.

Ember said the result comes amid ongoing global energy market volatility linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, but that it has not triggered a broad shift back toward coal or sustained growth in gas-fired generation.

Instead, the think tank said the rapid expansion of wind and solar has been sufficient to meet nearly all of the growth in global electricity demand in recent years, limiting further expansion of gas in the power sector. It also found no evidence of a widespread switch from gas to coal despite energy security concerns.

Global wind and solar generation rose 13% year on year in April, with China up 14%, the European Union up 13%, the United Kingdom up 35%, the United States up 8%, Australia up 17%, Chile up 24%, and Brazil up 4%.

Ember noted that the crossover occurred in a month that is seasonally favorable for renewables in the northern hemisphere, when moderate demand coincides with strong wind and solar output.

The group added that improving economics and concerns over imported fossil fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) are accelerating renewable energy deployment, particularly in import-dependent economies seeking to reduce exposure to price volatility.