solar wind

Global renewable energy from wind and solar continues to expand, but fossil fuel use is rising alongside it rather than declining. Commentators note that clean energy growth is being outpaced by overall energy demand, meaning renewables are adding to the energy mix instead of replacing coal, oil and gas.

New figures on global electricity generation show coal remained the world's largest source in 2024, producing about 34% of electricity, while wind and solar together reached 15%, up sharply from just 4% a decade earlier. The data, presented as charts drawn directly onto a world map, is drawing attention to both the slow pace of the coal decline and the rapid growth of renewables.

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.

Texas is turning its attention to solar power as part of a broader shift in its energy mix, long dominated by oil and gas. The move highlights how the state, already a leader in wind generation, is increasingly adding large-scale solar capacity to meet growing electricity demand and diversify its power sources.

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.

Renewable sources are now generating 61 percent of Turkey's electricity, according to a report by Informed Comment. The figure is being highlighted against the backdrop of an energy crisis tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments. Turkey's growing reliance on wind, solar and hydro is being framed as insulation from disruptions in Persian Gulf energy supplies.

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.

A new report argues the next wave of American battery demand will come not from electric vehicles but from grid-scale storage, as utilities add batteries to balance growing amounts of wind and solar power and to stabilize an aging electricity network under rising demand from data centers. Industry watchers see this as a structural shift in where battery manufacturing and investment will flow next.

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.

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.

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 rural Idaho county that banned renewable energy development is now reconsidering the decision, according to Grist. The story is drawing attention among climate and clean energy observers, who see it as an example of communities weighing the economic and practical costs of rejecting wind and solar projects after the fact.

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.

Zhongtian Hechuang has opened a tender for an electrolysis hydrogen production testing and evaluation center at its Wushenqi wind and solar power hydrogen production project in Inner Mongolia, with an investment of 65.13 million yuan. The project is part of China's expanding green hydrogen build-out, converting renewable power into hydrogen at scale. Industry watchers are tracking progress as a sign of momentum in the country's hydrogen sector.

Renewable energy analysts are examining why older wind and solar installations could become more valuable as they age. Early wind and solar projects built decades ago are approaching end of design life, raising questions about repowering, grid interconnection rights, and land already permitted for clean energy. Some argue these existing sites may hold strategic value as demand for renewable capacity and grid access grows.

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.

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 operational control of the assets. Further details on the buyer, price and use of proceeds have not been disclosed, but the move underscores continued investor appetite for US renewable energy assets.

A weather observation from Apache Junction, Arizona, recorded at 05:00, shows 68°F with a high of 72°F and low of 68°F, humidity at 91%, light northeast winds easing to calm, and a waning moon at 92%. Conditions are mild and humid for the Arizona desert, with no solar radiation or UV before dawn.

A weather station in Clifden, Connemara, Ireland, reported current conditions at 12:02: a temperature of 16.4°C, humidity of 87%, pressure of 996.4 hPa, no rainfall so far today, and a northeast wind of 21 km/h. The UV index stood at zero with low solar radiation of 36 W/m², suggesting overcast skies.