Wind vs Solar — Which Green Energy Is Winning in 2026?

VA
Valeria Lvova30 July 2026 · 7 min read

For years the question was which renewable would win: wind or solar. In 2025 the answer became clearer — and more interesting. Solar pulled ahead on generation for the first time, while onshore wind remains the cheaper new power source in many markets. The practical conclusion for businesses is not to pick a winner. It is to understand what each technology does best, then measure the emissions and costs of the electricity you actually buy.

What the latest data shows

According to IRENA’s Renewable capacity statistics 2026, global renewable capacity reached 5,149 GW by the end of 2025, about 49% of total installed power capacity. Solar led the growth: capacity rose to 2,392 GW after additions of about 511 GW. Wind capacity reached 1,291 GW after additions of about 159 GW.

Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026 reports that solar generation overtook wind for the first time in 2025, reaching 2,778 TWh. Combined, wind and solar supplied 17.3% of global electricity — nearly four times their 2015 share.

Cost is no longer a simple duel

IRENA’s Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2025 finds that solar PV’s global weighted-average LCOE stayed around USD 44/MWh. Onshore wind fell to about USD 33/MWh and offshore wind to about USD 78/MWh. More than 90% of utility-scale renewable projects commissioned in 2025 were cheaper than the least expensive new fossil alternative in their market.

So wind still wins on cost in many onshore settings, while solar wins on deployment speed and generation growth. That split matters more than a headline “winner”.

What this means for company carbon accounting

  • Market-based Scope 2 claims depend on credible renewable electricity procurement, not just national averages.
  • Location-based Scope 2 still uses the grid mix — and that mix is changing quickly as solar and wind expand.
  • If you buy renewable electricity, keep evidence for the reporting year, not just a marketing claim.
  • For UK reporting, apply the UK Government GHG conversion factors that match the year of your activity data.

A better question than “which is winning?”

Ask which technology, contract and evidence trail reduce your organisation’s emissions most reliably. Solar’s growth is reshaping daytime grids. Wind remains vital for cost and complementarity. Most organisations need both at system level — and a clear measurement method at company level.

If you are collecting electricity, fuel and supply-chain data for the first time, start with a complete inventory, then improve the quality of the biggest lines year on year.