BRICS Alliance Reaches Pivotal Moment as Fossil Fuels Decline in Power Capacity

The BRICS economic bloc, consisting of major emerging economies, has marked a significant shift in its energy landscape, with fossil fuels now accounting for less than 50% of its total power capacity. This achievement represents a dramatic transformation for the world's largest emerging economies, driven by the rapid growth of renewable energy capacity. According to the 2025 Global Energy Monitor report, the original BRICS nations have installed over 890 gigawatts of renewable capacity since 2020, with China alone adding 300 GW of solar and wind power.

Key Takeaways:

• The BRICS alliance has reached a pivotal moment, with fossil fuels now accounting for less than 50% of its total power capacity, a first in the group's 15-year history.
• The original BRICS nations have installed over 890 gigawatts of renewable capacity since 2020, with China adding 300 GW of solar and wind power.
• Chinese manufacturers produce 85% of global solar panels and 70% of wind turbines, driving costs down by 65% since 2020.
• India has matched this momentum by adding 73 GW of renewable capacity over the past two years, exceeding its Paris Agreement commitments ahead of schedule.
• Brazil has achieved 87% renewable electricity generation by late 2024, leveraging its vast hydroelectric resources and expanding into bioenergy.
• Despite ongoing challenges with state utility Eskom, South Africa's energy transformation has been equally remarkable, adding more renewable capacity than coal for the second consecutive year.
• The five new BRICS members, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan, bring energy portfolios that are overwhelmingly fossil-fuel dependent, with coal, oil, and gas comprising 78% of their combined power capacity.
• Indonesian coal plants under construction account for 13.5 GW, an increase that threatens to reverse the bloc's climate trajectory.
• The Belt and Road Initiative's $47 billion investment pipeline in new BRICS countries includes 88% of coal projects and 93% of hydropower developments, creating tension with Beijing's domestic climate commitments.
• Chinese institutions have provided $23 billion for energy projects in new BRICS countries since 2022, with 68% supporting fossil fuel development.
• Kenya's experience highlights Africa's energy dilemmas, with the country generating over 85% of electricity from renewables but still approving fossil fuel projects.
• The African Development Bank reports that while the continent added 4.5 GW of renewable capacity in 2024, fossil fuel investments totalled $67 billion compared to $24 billion for clean energy.

Statistics:

• Fossil fuels now account for less than 50% of BRICS' total power capacity.
• 890 GW of renewable capacity have been installed in the original BRICS nations since 2020.
• Chinese manufacturers produce 85% of global solar panels and 70% of wind turbines.
• India has added 73 GW of renewable capacity over the past two years.
• Brazil has achieved 87% renewable electricity generation by late 2024.
• South Africa has added more renewable capacity than coal for the second consecutive year.
• The five new BRICS members have coal, oil, and gas comprising 78% of their combined power capacity.
• Indonesian coal plants under construction account for 13.5 GW.
• Chinese institutions have provided $23 billion for energy projects in new BRICS countries since 2022.
• 11,000 GW of clean energy need to be installed in developing countries by 2030 to meet the COP28 commitment.

Sources:

• 2025 Global Energy Monitor report
• International Renewable Energy Agency
• African Development Bank
• Belt and Road Initiative
• Chinese Development Bank
• Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
• Global Energy Monitor report