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.
0.0 GW
of solar energy capacity was added in 2023 worldwide (Statistical Review of World Energy)
0million
jobs in the renewable energy sector in 2023 (IRENA)
0%
share of total primary energy consumption worldwide was from renewables in 2023 (Statistical Review of World Energy)
0million
households in the UK (or equivalent) were powered by wind energy in 2023 (RenewableUK)
What's new?
UK offshore energy sector faces mass redundancies
11th June 2025
Although the scale of offshore renewable energies can offset losses in oil and gas, the report warns that the UK still risks losing tens of thousands ...
Global energy investment is set to rise to $3.3tn in 2025 amid economic uncertainty and energy security concerns
11th June 2025
Investment in clean technologies – renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emission fuels, efficiency and electrification – is on course to hit $2.2t...
Onshore wind expands (with major project start-ups in Africa and Australia) and grows safer in the UK
11th June 2025
Africa’s largest wind farm commissioned in EgyptA major milestone for African renewable energy has been reached with the commissioning of ...
Europe’s largest e-fuels plant has opened and the SAF market is taking off in the Americas
11th June 2025
Europe’s largest e-fuel production plant enters operation in FrankfurtGerman cleantech innovator INERATEC has officially launched ERA ONE,...
Germany and the US showcase new electrolyser pilot plants, but Australia’s hydrogen sector is faltering, according to report
11th June 2025
Pilot solid-oxide electrolyser production plant opens in GermanyThyssenkrupp Nucera and the Fraunhofer IKTS research institute have inaugu...
Events and training
Statistical Review of World Energy 2025 - online global launch webcast
26th June 2025
Event OverviewThe Statistical Review compiles and analyses data on world energy production, consumption, and emissions from the prior year. It has bee...
Level 3: Advanced Energy Manager
29th September 2025 - 3rd December 2025
This 9-day course is an advanced qualification aiming to support experienced energy managers to further advance their careers by gaining the skills an...
Level 1: Certificate in Energy Management Essentials - October 2025
6th October 2025 - 10th October 2025
About:This introductory 5 day classroom course provides a comprehensive, practical overview of the fundamentals of energy management, equipping p...
Maintenance Strategy Fundamentals - October 2025
17th October 2025 - 20th October 2025
In this 2 half-day training course on the 17 & 20 of October 2025, you will gain the fundamental knowledge and understanding to develop an efficie...
Technical guidance publications
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...
EI 3586
SafetyOn Good practice guidelines: Welfare in the onshore wind industry
March 2025
The first edition of the SafetyOn GPG on welfare in the onshore wind industry is a resource for wind companies to adopt and implement within their own...
EI 3462
Wind Turbine Safety Rules Procedure 5: Temporary application of an alternative safe systems of work
February 2025
The Wind Turbine Safety Rules (WTSRs) are a model set of Safety Rules and procedures to help formalise a Safe System of Work (SSoW) to manage the sign...
EI 3582
SafetyOn and G+ workshops report: Electrical safe system of work
February 2025
SafetyOn and G+ have been working collaboratively with the EI to enhance safety protocols in the onshore and offshore wind industry through the Safe S...