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?
China outlines plans to accelerate offshore wind and green trade measures to reach climate goals
19/3/2025
The initiatives were announced by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and detailed in the Government Work Report at the 14th Nationa...
UK publishes detail on long duration energy storage ‘cap and floor’ investment framework
19/3/2025
The TDD sets out how the cap and floor scheme will operate, application window timelines, eligibility criteria and the potential LDES capacity needed,...
US Energy Secretary vows to reverse Biden-era climate policies
19/3/2025
Speaking at S&P Global’s CERAWeek conference in Houston, Wright vowed a reversal of the Biden administration’s ‘very poor direction in energy poli...
Making solar projects cheaper and faster with portable factories
19/3/2025
US-company Charge Robotics is developing solar installation factories to speed up the process of building large-scale solar farms. The company’s facto...
Did you hear? Gode Wind 3 wind project starts commercial operation offshore Germany
19/3/2025
Gode Wind 3 comprises 23 wind turbines from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, each with a capacity of 11 MW. ‘With a rotor diameter of 200 metres, this...
Events and training
How to Achieve a Net-Zero and More Environmentally Friendly Community
26/3/2025
Event DetailsThe transition to a sustainable future requires collective action from individuals, businesses, and policymakers. Achieving net-zero emis...
Level 1: Certificate in Energy Management Essentials - April 2025
31/3/2025 - 4/4/2025
About:This introductory 5 day classroom course provides a comprehensive, practical overview of the fundamentals of energy management, equipping p...
Addressing engineering opportunities and challenges towards delivering net zero in 2050
12/5/2025 - 14/5/2025
At this event, delegates will explore tangible solutions for engineering professionals to meet Oman's energy transition goals.Bookings will open short...
All-Energy 2025
14/5/2025 - 15/5/2025
All-Energy, the UK’s largest low-carbon energy and renewables event, returns May 14-15, 2025, at the SEC, Glasgow.We'll be exhibi...
Level 3: Advanced Energy Manager
29/9/2025 - 3/12/2025
This 9-day course is an advanced qualification aiming to support experienced energy managers to further advance their careers by gaining the skills an...
Technical guidance publications
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...
EI 3581
Guidance on co-location of battery energy storage system (BESS) with power generation plant
February 2025
This publication is free of charge. Register/log in to download. Power generation systems are decarbonising and so the need for electrical energy sto...
EI 3578
Steel fabrication in the offshore wind industry - A good practice guidance for developers
December 2024
This document presents a set of formal, practical, and relevant good practice guidelines aimed at project developers, to address the major challenges ...
EI 3576
G+ Good practice guidelines for unmanned aircraft systems in the offshore wind industry
November 2024
G+, the Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation, has developed this GPG to share, advance and encourage good health and safety practice wh...