Renewables now make up 30% of global electricity generation
Renewable energy, sourced from replenishable natural resources like sunlight, wind, and geothermal heat, is pivotal in electricity generation, heating, cooling, and transportation. It offers off-grid solutions for remote areas, produces minimal greenhouse gases, and enhances energy security due to its wide geographical distribution. As global efforts to mitigate climate change intensify, the shift to low-carbon energy, led by renewables, is accelerating. Technologies such as solar PV and wind are becoming cost-competitive with fossil fuels. Increasing the renewable share in energy systems involves electrifying heating and transport sectors, using biofuels, and deploying solar water heating, biomass burners, and geothermal heating. Achieving climate goals requires rapid renewable energy deployment across all sectors, supported by favourable policies and market conditions.
You can find further information below about the technologies, costs and current developments within each of the seven major types of renewables:
Learn more about renewables by reading our Energy Insights.
For the latest news and articles on renewable energy read New Energy World.
View our dedicated Collections on Hydrogen.
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of solar energy capacity was added in 2023 worldwide (Statistical Review of World Energy)
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jobs in the renewable energy sector in 2023 (IRENA)
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share of total primary energy consumption worldwide was from renewables in 2023 (Statistical Review of World Energy)
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households in the UK (or equivalent) were powered by wind energy in 2023 (RenewableUK)
New Energy World stories
World’s largest thermal energy storage unit commissioned in Hungary
22nd October 2025
The 56 MWh Heatcube will provide KALL Ingredients with more than 30 GWh of renewable process heat per year, replacing natural gas-fired boilers with c...
EWEC awards 1.5 GW Khazna solar project to Engie and Masdar
22nd October 2025
The announcement was formalised through the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) between EWEC, Engie and Masdar. Under the terms of the agreeme...
OGCI members have cut carbon intensity by 24% since 2017
22nd October 2025
According to the OGCI report, carbon intensity at member companies’ upstream operations reached 0.12% in 2024, ‘well below’ the initiative’s 0.2% ambi...
Wind power found to lower UK bills, while, at a global level, renewables displace coal-fired power for the first time ever
15th October 2025
Growth in UK renewables cuts electricity prices by up to 25%Wind power has driven down electricity prices by weakening the dominance of ga...
No improvement in female underrepresentation in global renewables industry since 2019, finds IRENA investigation
15th October 2025
The IRENA report shows the percentage of women working in renewables has not changed since its first gender analysis in 2019. As a result, the Agency ...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3594
Designing offshore wind turbines: Literature review on decarbonisation, circularity, and environmental impact reduction
October 2025
The transition to a low-carbon economy has accelerated the growth of renewable energy technologies, with offshore wind playing a pivotal role in achie...
EI 3602
SafetyOn Good practice guidelines: Analytical modelling for life extension of Wind Turbine Generators
October 2025
This good practice guide is intended to give insight into the aeroelastic modelling process, so anyone working towards life extension can gain a compr...
EI 3596
SafetyOn Safe by Design workshop report: Review of the risks and control measures for current and ageing high voltage equipment (including boundary switches to low voltage equipment) in and around wind turbine generators
July 2025
This document has been produced to assist the onshore wind industry to reduce, and where practicable, eliminate the hazards associated with high-volta...
EI 3590
SafetyOn 2024 Incident data report
June 2025
This report presents the analysis of health and safety incident data submitted by SafetyOn members and serves to highlight key risk areas that can inf...
EI 3584
G+ Good practice guideline - Governance of mechanical lifting operations in the offshore wind industry
May 2025
This new G+ good practice guidance aims to share, advance and encourage good practice for the governance of lifting operations in the offshore wind in...