Wind and Solar Outpace Gas Power

In a global first, wind and solar generated more electricity than natural gas this April, marking a major milestone in the energy transition.

In April, wind and solar power generation surpassed natural gas globally for the first time. Data from the energy think tank Ember shows that these two renewable sources accounted for 22% of the world's electricity production, while natural gas generated 20%. In total, wind and solar produced a record 531 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity during the month, which was 54 TWh more than gas-fired power plants. This event represents a significant turning point in the composition of the global energy grid, demonstrating the growing scale and impact of renewable energy sources on a worldwide basis.

This milestone is crucial for technology leaders, including CTOs and founders, as it signals a fundamental shift in the energy landscape. The increasing dominance of renewables affects long-term infrastructure planning, especially for data centers and cloud services. As the grid becomes greener, companies can more easily meet sustainability goals. It also points to potential changes in energy pricing and grid stability, which are critical considerations when selecting cloud providers or planning physical infrastructure. This trend underscores the importance of integrating energy strategy into core business and technology decisions.