How clean energy shielded the world from crisis during Strait of Hormuz blockade

WorldEnvironment
15 Apr 2026 • 6:13 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

How clean energy shielded the world from crisis during Strait of Hormuz blockade

  • New data reveals that solar and wind power significantly shielded the world from the worst impacts of the energy crisis triggered by the Strait of Hormuz blockade, contradicting a narrative of a 'coal comeback'.
  • Global fossil fuel power generation fell by 1% year-on-year in March; outside China, coal-fired power decreased by 3.5% and gas-fired by 4%, while solar and wind generation rose by 15% and 7.6% respectively.
  • Global coal imports in March recorded their lowest level in five years, declining by approximately 7.6% year-on-year.
  • Analysts attribute this trend to the substantial increase in global clean energy capacity since 2022, which absorbed the decline in gas-fired power generation following the blockade.
  • The structural shift towards clean energy makes new fossil fuel investments unattractive, as accelerated clean energy deployment is expected to significantly reduce fossil fuel demand.

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