wind energy

UN News has published a feature looking at how the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is changing the idea of energy security. The piece argues that the recent global energy crisis pushed countries to rethink dependence on imported fuels, and that expanding wind, solar and other renewables can reduce exposure to price shocks and supply disruptions while supporting climate goals.

New figures for 2024 show coal remains the world's largest source of electricity, producing about 34% of the global total. Wind and solar together reached 15%, a sharp rise from just 4% a decade earlier. Map-based charts breaking the mix down by country are drawing attention as people debate the pace of the energy transition.

Growth in solar and wind power is limiting the use of natural gas in the United States even as overall electricity demand increases. The finding suggests renewables are increasingly meeting new consumption needs that would previously have been covered by gas-fired generation, a notable shift in the US energy mix.

As solar and wind replace conventional power plants, grids lose the natural inertia that traditionally kept frequency stable, raising concerns about blackout risks. UK-based Reactive Technologies is addressing this by sending sonar-like pulses through the grid to measure live inertia directly, revealing risks that standard models miss. The company has received €19 million in backing from the European Investment Bank to expand the approach.

Thailand's Electricity Generating Public Company (EGCO) has closed the purchase of a 49% stake in a 339-MW portfolio of solar and wind assets in the United States. The deal adds US renewables capacity to the Thai power producer's portfolio, reflecting continued foreign investment in American clean energy infrastructure. Further financial terms and project details were not disclosed.

French renewable energy company JP Energie has announced acquisitions totalling 202 MW of wind and solar capacity. The company is expanding its renewables portfolio across France through a series of project purchases. Details on the individual assets, sellers, and financial terms have not been disclosed, but the move underlines continued consolidation in the country's fast-growing wind and solar sector.

A new commentary argues that the relationship between solar power, wind power, battery storage and politics has become complicated. The piece examines how political factors shape the deployment of renewable energy technologies and storage. It is drawing attention among readers following the clean energy transition, where policy decisions increasingly influence how fast solar, wind and battery projects can move forward.

A new Visual Capitalist graphic ranks how much clean energy countries have added since 2015, charting the global shift toward renewables over the past decade. The comparison is drawing attention as readers weigh which nations have expanded solar, wind and other clean sources fastest and whether the pace matches climate goals set under the Paris Agreement.

Pennsylvania State University is hosting a talk on October 2 examining how artificial intelligence can offer insights into climate change impacts on renewable energy. The event will bring together researchers to discuss how AI tools can help predict and manage climate-related challenges facing solar, wind and other renewable power sources.

Carbon Brief analysis finds that UK wind and solar generation avoided £5.9bn in gas imports during the Strait of Hormuz crisis, which disrupted global energy shipping routes. By reducing reliance on imported gas, renewable output shielded British consumers and industry from higher costs. The findings are fuelling debate about the strategic value of homegrown renewables for energy security, not just emissions cuts.

Environment+Energy Leader reports that older wind and solar installations could become more valuable over time. As renewable infrastructure built decades ago matures, questions are turning to how these sites might be repowered, upgraded or repurposed, and whether existing grid connections and permits make them increasingly attractive assets for developers and investors in the energy transition.

An Israeli wind energy developer has been placed on the United Nations' blacklist of companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements. The listing, compiled by the UN Human Rights Council, identifies businesses linked to settlement activity in occupied Palestinian territory. The company becomes one of the few renewable energy firms named, drawing attention to the reach of the blacklist beyond construction and retail sectors.

Polling from Texas shows that while the oil and gas industry is viewed 20 points more favorably than unfavorably in the state, solar and wind are still far more popular, with renewables enjoying roughly 46 points of net favorability — more than twice that of fossil fuels. Commenters note the irony of a fossil-fuel stronghold embracing clean energy, suggesting political support for oil and gas does not reflect consumer enthusiasm for renewables.

Solar power has passed both coal and wind in capacity, a milestone in the global energy transition. But analysts say the bigger question is what happens next: whether grids, storage and policy can keep pace with solar's rapid growth, and how the technology will scale from here.

Solar power has moved past both coal and wind in the global energy mix, a milestone in the shift to renewables. Commentators say the real story is what comes next: how grids, storage and policy adapt as solar keeps growing at record pace and reshapes the electricity system.

An Israeli wind energy developer has been added to the United Nations blacklist of companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements, according to trade outlet Wind Power Monthly. The UN database lists firms with business activities in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, which it deems illegal under international law. Israel rejects the list, and companies named typically face pressure from both sides, with supporters of the blacklist welcoming the listing and critics condemning it.

Apex Clean Energy has sold a minority stake in a 339MW portfolio of solar and wind projects in the United States. The deal brings in an outside investor while Apex retains control of the assets, part of a broader pattern of renewable developers selling equity stakes to fund continued growth. Details of the buyer and the transaction value were not disclosed.

Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg are jointly pressing the European Union to adopt an ambitious renewable energy target for 2040, arguing that a binding goal is needed to keep the bloc's climate commitments on track. The joint push puts the three countries at the forefront of debate over how fast Europe should phase out fossil fuels and scale up wind and solar capacity.

French utility EDF has deployed a floating platform designed to carry out environmental studies at sea. The platform is intended to support marine monitoring work, likely in connection with offshore energy projects. Details about its location, duration and specific research objectives have not been disclosed. Environmental monitoring of this kind is commonly required ahead of offshore wind developments.