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
At nearly 11GW capacity, one of the world’s biggest renewable energy parks is expected to nearly triple in size by 2029
3rd November 2026
The Khavda site capacity is up from 7.1GW a year ago. In that time, it added 2,568MW of solar, 666MW of wind, 3,081MWh of battery storage and 321MW of...
China launches offshore wind-to-hydrogen platform
3rd November 2026
According to CIMC Raffles, the ‘Shenhai Hydrogen Energy No. 1’ platform was launched on 13 October in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, and is undergoing ...
Jackdaw gas field to begin production this week
27th October 2026
According to the government, Jackdaw is expected to produce gas with an energy equivalent of around 40mn boe over its lifetime, increase UK domestic g...
Home battery storage could cut India’s rooftop solar grid loads by 85–90%
27th October 2026
Because growth in home solar without local storage creates significant grid challenges, Ember’s findings suggest that targeted financial incentives to...
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...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3656
SafetyOn Safe by Design workshop report: Falls from height
November 2026
EI 3656 SafetyOn Safe by Design workshop report: Falls from height explores how technology could reduce or eliminate risks associated with falls from ...
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...