Renewables now make up 32% 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.
View our dedicated Collection on the A-Z of the Energy Transition.
For the latest news and articles on renewable energy, read New Energy World.
0.0GW
total global installed capacity of solar in 2024, compared to 1,135 GW of wind (Statistical Review of World Energy)
0
was the first year that solar electricity generation surpassed coal in the European Union (Statistical Review of World Energy)
0%
share of total global generation from wind and solar in 2024 (Statistical Review of World Energy)
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million households in the UK (or equivalent) were powered by wind energy in 2024 (RenewableUK)
New Energy World stories
Battery storage undercuts gas as energy transition reshapes global power markets
20th October 2026
Four-hour battery storage is now cheaper than open-cycle gas in all 43 markets modelled, according to Wood Mackenzie’s latest global levelised cost of...
France launches new biogas support mechanisms
20th October 2026
The new law relates to biogas production certificates (BPCs) and establishes six obligation periods, the first from 2026 to 2029 and subsequent ones i...
African wind capacity reaches new peak of 11.1GW, but three countries dominate
20th October 2026
Egypt is building Africa’s first gigawatt-scale wind project, while South African corporate buyers are securing wind contracts through private power p...
Hybrid solar+storage and long-duration energy storage projects complete in China
20th October 2026
PowerChina has completed grid connection and started electricity generation at a 1GW hybrid solar project in Gonghe county, Qinghai province, northwes...
More than 8,000 European renewables sites found vulnerable to cyberattack
13th October 2026
Thousands of systems used to monitor and control European wind and solar sites are unnecessarily connected to the internet, making renewable energy in...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3652
Human factors in valve criticality analysis
October 2026
This guidance has been prepared by the Energy Institute (EI), drawing on the expertise of human factors engineering (HFE) specialists, process safety ...
EI 3604
Embedding circularity across the life cycle of assets
July 2026
EI 3604 Embedding circularity across the lifecycle of assets helps companies integrate circular economy principles into every stage of an asset’s life...
EI 3640
G+ 2025 incident data report
June 2026
The G+ 2025 incident data report examines the patterns behind health and safety performance of offshore wind projects among G+ members.This year saw c...
EI 3642
G+ Vessel management in offshore wind for new entrants and non-marine professionals
June 2026
EI 3642 G+ Vessel management in offshore wind for new entrants and non-marine professionals provides an accessible, non-technical overview of vessel m...
EI 3637
SafetyOn 2025 Onshore wind health and safety incident data report
June 2026
EI 3637 SafetyOn 2025 Onshore wind health and safety incident data report presents the analysis of health and safety incident data submitted by Safety...