Table of Contents
Wind farms and solar farms made more electricity than coal. This is a big change. It happened in the first half of 2025.
A group called Ember wrote a report. It says clean energy grew very fast. The world needs more electricity. Clean energy grew faster, so people used less coal and gas.
Solar power grew about 33%. New solar farms made most of the world’s new electricity. Wind power also grew. These clean energies replaced some fossil fuels. Clean energy can now give us the power we need.
China and India made the most new clean energy. But the US and Europe used more dirty fuels.
Clean energy could increase 100% by 2030. Solar power will grow the most. China and India will still be the biggest places for this growth.
In China, they used 2% less fossil fuels. India also used less coal and gas. But in the US, more power was needed. Clean energy was not enough. So, they used 17% more coal. Europe had bad weather for wind and hydropower. So, they also used more gas and coal.
Vocabulary
- Wind farm – an area of land with many big wind turbines or “fans” used to generate/make electricity;
- Solar farm – a large area of land with many solar panels that use sunlight to generate/make electricity; 🌞
- Electricity – power; current; energy used to operate lights, TVs, etc.; ⚡🔌
- Coal – a black or dark brown rock that burns strongly, a rock used to make big fires
- Group – two or more people/companies that work together for a reason
- Report – a written description of an event; story; article; the results of a study or project
- Clean energy – energy generated/created from renewable sources (wind, solar, water, etc.) without creating greenhouse gasses (CO2); renewable energy; green energy
- Energy – fuel; electricity; power; oil; ⚡
- Grow – To become bigger or increase in size; become; to get larger;
- Gas – fuel that is like air and can be burned to make energy; a substance in a form like air that is used as a fuel for heating and cooking
- Solar power – Energy that comes from the sun and can be used to generate/create electricity
- Wind power – Energy that comes from the wind and can be used to generate/create electricity
- Replace – to take the place of; to substitute; to come after; to fill in; swap; exchange
- Fossil fuel – natural resources like coal, oil, and gas that are made from the remains of ancient plants and animals
- Power – energy; electricity ⚡
- Increase – to go up; to make something larger; to make more of; expand
- Growth – when something gets bigger or better; increasing
- Enough – Having what is needed or sufficient; plenty; a good amount; abundant
- Hydropower – Energy that comes from moving water like rivers and waterfalls and can be used to generate/create electricity
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it is good news that wind and solar made more power than coal? Why or why not?
- The US used more coal last year. What are some reasons why a country might still use old energy like coal?
- The text says clean energy might double by 2030. Do you think this will really happen? Why?
- China and India are making a lot of new clean energy. What can other countries do to help them?
- If clean energy costs more money than coal, should countries still use it? Why?
- The weather was bad for wind and hydropower in Europe. How can countries stop this from being a problem for their electricity?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Wind _____ and solar farms made more electricity than coal. _____ is a big change. It happened in the first half of _____ .
A group called Ember _____ a report. It says clean energy grew very fast. _____ world needs more electricity. Clean _____ grew faster, so people used less coal and _____ .
Solar power grew about _____ %. New solar farms made most of the world’s _____ electricity. Wind power also grew. _____ clean energies replaced some fossil fuels. Clean energy _____ now give us the power we need.
_____ and India made the most new clean energy. _____ the US and Europe used more dirty fuels.
Clean energy _____ increase 100% by 2030. Solar power will grow the _____ . China and India will still be the biggest places for this growth.
_____ China, they used 2% less fossil fuels. India also used _____ coal and gas. But in the US, more power was needed. Clean energy _____ not enough. So, they used 17% more coal. _____ had bad weather for wind and hydropower. _____ , they also used more gas and _____ .
