General Discussion

rather than they can replace a substantial portion of energy now generated by fossil fuels. It doesn't have to replace all fossil fuel consumption, just enough to result in a significant reduction i.e. fossil fuel powered and nuke generators can still be utilized as backup as required.

Sure, nuclear power has potential to generate all required power but at what cost (SMRs for example although having some intrinsic safety features ain't going to be cheap so it seems and we are still left with what to do with the nuclear waste).

I would again refer to the China and Australia results:

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As of 2025, both China and Australia have reached record-high levels of wind and solar penetration, significantly outpacing the global average of 17%.

China

China is currently the world leader in sheer volume of renewable energy deployment. In 2025, for the first time in modern history, China saw an absolute decline in coal-fired generation.

Wind & Solar Combined: 22% of total electricity generation.

Total Clean Energy: 42% (This includes wind, solar, hydropower, and nuclear).

Milestone: In early 2026, China's cumulative wind and solar capacity reached 1.84 billion kilowatts, accounting for 47.3% of its total installed capacity—surpassing coal/thermal capacity for the first time.

Trend: Solar alone grew by 40% in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Australia

Australia has one of the highest penetrations of solar energy in the world, largely driven by "rooftop" solar on residential homes.

Wind & Solar Combined: 33% of total electricity generation.

Total Clean Energy: 39% (Includes wind, solar, and hydro).

Milestone: In the first quarter of 2025, renewables briefly powered 43% of the National Energy Market (NEM) grid.

Solar Specifics: Australia has the world's highest solar generation per capita. About 43% of Australian households now have solar panels installed.

Trend: Fossil fuel generation in Australia fell by roughly 4% in 2025 as large-scale wind and household solar continued to push coal out of the mix.

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And, all this is now accelerating due to the v high price of crude oil (China is selling solar cells at a record pace).