Wind and solar top gas in global electricity generation in April

According to Ember’s monthly analysis, wind and solar generated 22% of global electricity in April 2026, surpassing gas for the full month; combined output reached a record 531 TWh versus 477 TWh from gas.

Ember’s data show year-on-year increases across major markets — for example China (+14%), the EU (+13%), the UK (+35%) and the US (+8%) — driven by strong spring wind regimes in the Northern Hemisphere and growing solar capacity. The think‑tank notes that these gains are the result of sustained capacity build-out rather than a short-term anomaly.

This monthly milestone aligns with Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026 findings for 2025: clean power growth met global electricity demand growth, pushing fossil‑fuel generation into a slight decline and allowing renewables to gain a larger share of the generation mix. That annual context underlines the structural nature of the shift rather than a purely cyclical movement.

Market implications include downward pressure on spot electricity prices during high renewable output periods and a reduced need for gas‑fired generation, which can affect LNG flows and gas markets in importing regions. Utilities, traders and investors are re-evaluating hedges and capital allocation as the power mix changes.

In a broader economic and geopolitical sense, faster deployment of wind and solar can lessen exposure to volatile fossil fuel imports and improve energy security for gas‑importing economies. However, system integration challenges — grid flexibility, transmission build‑out and storage deployments — remain key to turning higher renewable shares into reliable, round‑the‑clock supply.

Analysts expect seasonal variability to continue, but project that continued capacity additions and falling storage costs will further raise the share of wind and solar through 2026 and beyond. Policy direction, permitting speed and grid investments will determine how quickly intermittent output is integrated without compromising reliability.