Renewable energy

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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.

What's new?

Sharjah launches its first utility-scale solar farm, while a new passive cooling tech boosts PV performance in Saudi Arabia

9th July 2025

The 60 MWp capacity SANA solar project provides power during the day to Sharjah National Oil Corporation’s (SNOC) Sajaa gas plant, exporting excess po...

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Heathrow substation fire caused by moisture in electrics

9th July 2025

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has published its final report from the review into the North Hyde substation outage which took place late ...

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Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ blows big hole in US emissions target

9th July 2025

According to estimates based on modelling by Princeton University’s REPEAT Project, passage of the Bill will add an extra 7bn tonnes of greenhouse gas...

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Energy access is improving, but progress towards 2030 targets requires ‘greater collective effort’, says new report

9th July 2025

Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025 highlights the role of distributed renewable energy (a combination of mini-grid and off-grid solar sys...

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UK schools accelerate solar shift with new investment

2nd July 2025

The first of six planned rooftop solar PV installations at Wellspring Academy Trust schools was installed at Springwell Alternative Academy Grantham i...

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Events and training

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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