The U.S. academic journal Science has named the renewable energy surge as its 2025 Breakthrough of the Year, highlighting a global transition powered by solar and wind technologies. Spearheading this shift is the Chinese mainland's industrial engine, which now accounts for 80% of the world's solar cell production, 70% of its wind turbines, and 70% of its lithium batteries – figures no competitor can match.
In 2025, renewable energy expanded rapidly enough to cover the entire increase in global electricity demand during the first half of the year, and it even surpassed coal as the leading source of electricity worldwide. This shift comes after centuries of reliance on fossil fuels – ancient solar energy stored in the earth since the Industrial Revolution.
According to Science, the Chinese mainland's steady nurturing of the sector through subsidies is the key driver behind this manufacturing dominance, which is now reshaping markets from Europe – longtime customers – to Africa and South Asia, where rooftop solar imports have soared as communities seek affordable, off-grid power solutions.
This surge has tangible climate impacts. So far this year, renewables have helped bring greenhouse gas emissions growth in the Chinese mainland to a virtual standstill and put a global carbon peak within reach. Experts warn that this milestone should be just the beginning of a much longer journey toward deep decarbonization.
Alongside the renewable energy breakthrough, Science highlighted several runner-up advances for 2025, including custom gene editing, two new drugs for gonorrhea, a next-generation telescope with unparalleled optical data-gathering capabilities, large language models applied to scientific research, and heat-tolerant rice varieties designed for warming climates.
As these innovations reshape industries and ecosystems alike, they signal a pivotal moment in humanity's quest for sustainable progress and illustrate the power of global collaboration in tackling our most urgent challenges.
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Science names renewable energy surge 2025 Breakthrough of the Year
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