Solar power has overtaken gas-fired generation in Asia for the first time, according to a Carbon Brief analysis of Ember data. In the year to April 2026, Asia produced 1,727 terawatt-hours from solar versus 1,711 terawatt-hours from gas. The 16 terawatt-hour gap is narrow but marks a historic shift in the region's power mix. China drove nearly three-quarters of Asian solar growth since 2020, adding a record 647 GW of new solar capacity in 2025 alone. Indian fossil generation fell 52 TWh in 2025, helped by large solar parks and rooftop installations. Meanwhile, about 81 GW of planned gas capacity in Asia was cancelled in 2022 and 2023, as solar costs continued to fall and gas prices remained volatile. The milestone is regional, not total. Coal still supplies 52 percent of Asia's electricity. But the data shows the cheapest new power in much of Asia is now solar, and the gas industry's expected Asian growth market has not materialized.
