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ReNew2030 | From progress to scale in 2025

ReNew2030 | From progress to scale in 2025

Exciting news, updates from Belém and highlights from a year that pushed renewables forward

As we look back on 2025, a clear shift comes into view. What began as steady progress grew into clear acceleration. Record solar generation, renewables surpassing coal, and clean power outpacing global demand show what’s possible when action takes root. More recently, COP30 echoed this: action is materialising, promise is building, but deeper, faster scaling is essential to stay on course—and it leaves us asking what it will take to turn this year’s signals into the systemic shifts the future demands.

This final 2025 newsletter offers a snapshot of our network’s achievements in sustaining this shift this year, along with fresh milestones from Belém and beyond.

Once again, we want to thank all of our partners for their inspiring work. We look forward to working with you on an even more ambitious 2026 together.

 

Community spotlight

ReNew2030 receives transformative gift to accelerate the global power sector transition

We are thrilled to announce that ReNew2030 has been entrusted with a great responsibility by MacKenzie Scott via her foundation Yield Giving with an unrestricted gift. As one of several climate collaboratives receiving funding through this initiative, this generous support will empower ReNew2030 partners around the world to scale up their high-impact work—helping accelerate a faster, more equitable power sector transition to renewables.

We’re deeply grateful and humbled by this opportunity, which will deepen our engagement and scale impact across our priority regions.

ReNew2030 Receives Transformative Gift to Accelerate the Global Power Sector Transition

Contribution will support international efforts to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030
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Implementation at the centre of the transition

At COP30, we focused on how the power sector transition is being delivered on the ground. To showcase this shift, we convened two events: one on the urgent need for modern, interconnected grids that can carry rapidly growing renewable power, and another on how distributed renewables are scaling through community leadership, innovative finance, and measurable livelihood gains in Latin America and Asia.

We also joined 70+ initiatives in signing the Action Agenda letter, urging negotiators to stay ambitious and advance the collective efforts needed to turn proven solutions into sustained long-term action.

→ Read more about how ReNew2030’s projects are delivering renewable energy and improving livelihoods across China, Mexico, and Brazil

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New coalition poised to supercharge Latin America’s clean energy future

Latin America’s renewable energy potential is vast, and now there’s a powerful new engine to help drive it. With support from our partners at the Pooled fund on International Energy (PIE), the Latin America Clean Energy Coalition (LACEC) was launched at COP30. It unites companies, developers, financiers, civil society and policymakers to unlock investment and accelerate solutionsfor affordable, accessible clean energy.

Starting in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, LACEC aims to fill a critical gap and help accelerate renewable deployment in the region, contributing to the global effort to triple renewables by 2030.

→ Read more about this exciting new initiative

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“To keep global climate goals within reach, we can’t simply restate ambition; we must accelerate deployment wherever it can make the biggest impact. That means every megawatt we can bring online faster, every policy we can unblock, every financing barrier we can remove, matters profoundly in keeping 1.5°C alive. The choice is simple: seize this tipping point, or risk watching it slip away.”

Read more about this reflection

2025 Snapshot: From progress to scale

Turning data and stories into public momentum

This year, our network strengthened public understanding and support for renewable energy by expanding access to reliable information. We mobilised youth in Mexico, brought energy communities to life across Central and Eastern Europe through creative, community-rooted outreach, and launched the PowerTracker tool in South Africa, empowering journalists to advance a transparent, just transition to renewables—see how the tool is strengthening people-centred reporting in our latest video below.

Supporting initiatives like Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism’ hashtag#PowerTracker

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Raising ambition through evidence and advocacy

We worked alongside partners to advance stronger government action, including Tara Climate Foundation, whose leadership helped accelerate offshore wind momentum across Asia and launch the Just Energy Transition Community, uniting philanthropy and local partners to scale people-first clean-energy solutions. In parallel, Instituto Clima e Sociedade developed an inclusive green-industrialisation training programme in Brazil to help shape industrial policies that strengthen a diverse and inclusive workforce.

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Communities leading their energy future

We helped local partners drive people-centred organising that made the benefits of renewables tangible—from lower energy bills to cleaner air and more reliable power. This work spanned community-led energy solutions across Latin America, practical distributed renewable solutions in China, and a growing energy democracy movement in Europe, all strengthening public participation in the transition to cleaner, fairer power systems.

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Unlocking capital for a fair transition

To drive investment at the scale needed, innovative financial mechanisms emerged in 2025. In Senegal, the African Climate Foundation launched the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund, linking philanthropy, policy and private finance; and PIE introduced the Global Grids Catalyst, accelerating global grid modernisation where it’s most urgent. Together, these initiatives show finance shifting from intent to action.

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ReNew2030 Receives Transformative Gift to Accelerate the Global Power Sector Transition

ReNew2030 Receives Transformative Gift to Accelerate the Global Power Sector Transition

Contribution will support international efforts to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030

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We are grateful to announce that ReNew2030 has been entrusted with an unrestricted gift by MacKenzie Scott via her foundation Yield Giving. As one of several climate collaboratives receiving funding through this initiative, this generous support will empower ReNew2030 partners around the world to scale up their high-impact work—helping accelerate a faster, more equitable power sector transition to renewables.

Yield Giving’s commitment is rooted in a simple but powerful truth: meaningful change is shaped not by any single leader or institution, but by countless acts of care, collaboration, and courage. This gift recognises that same spirit of interdependence in the global transition to renewable energy.

It affirms that equity and inclusion are central to ensuring an effective and just power sector transition at every level. It underscores the value of the local leaders, regional climate foundations, and transnational partners who make up the ReNew2030 network—organisations that blend deep local knowledge with global reach and understand that the transition succeeds when communities are not only protected but empowered.

Building a renewable-powered future

Beyond providing essential new resources, this milestone reinforces the confidence in our collective vision and the powerful momentum we’ve built together with our partners, acknowledging the long arc of contributions—large and small—that make global progress possible.

Over the next four years, this support will enable ReNew2030’s network to deepen their engagement in communities most affected by climate change and energy inequities, fostering innovative solutions that reflect local priorities while helping accelerate global goals to triple renewable capacity by 2030.

We know that the path to a cleaner, fairer world is shaped by the many hands, hearts, and decisions that rarely make headlines. This milestone opens new possibilities for those contributions to ripple outward with greater impact where they matter most.

We are deeply grateful to Yield Giving and to our strong community of funding catalysts for their trust and partnership, and to our entire network for their unwavering dedication to a cleaner, more equitable world. Together with this remarkable cohort, we continue to advance our shared mission of scaling wind and solar power by 2030.

“This extraordinary gift arrives at a pivotal moment, as communities on the frontlines of climate change face mounting challenges and shrinking time to act. It empowers dedicated organisations on the ground, enabling them to reach more people, scale faster, and accelerate our shared mission of building a just, clean energy future. It’s a powerful step toward a world where every community has the chance to thrive — not just survive.”

— Sharon Lo, Deputy Director, Program Strategy and Insights at Tara Climate Foundation & Chair of ReNew2030’s Implementation Partners Council

“A testament to the value of national and local action and the strength of our collaborative approach, this generous contribution strengthens our ability to turn ideas into real, lasting renewable energy solutions. With this support, we’re advancing a power transition that’s both swift and equitable, ensuring all regions share in the promise of a cleaner, more resilient future.”

— Rebecca Collyer, Executive Director at ReNew2030  

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A tipping point for the energy transition — but will we seize it?

A tipping point for the energy transition — but will we seize it?

By Rebecca Collyer, Executive Director at ReNew2030

“The world added over 600 gigawatts of solar and wind last year — with solar alone growing more than fifteen times faster what the IEA expected a decade ago.” This line from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit’s new report underlined a truth: few believe a transition is gathering pace until they can see it unfolding in real time. Ten years on from the Paris Agreement, it’s a reminder that the energy transition isn’t a future promise, it’s here, accelerating faster than most imagined. Even among experts, that very acceleration has expanded the community itself, giving rise to more expertise and visionaries than before!

Just weeks ago, fresh on the heels of NYC Climate Week, new data echoed the same story: solar generation hit a record high, and renewables overtook coal in global electricity generation for the first time ever.

The new figures confirm that progress is being made. The IEA projects that global renewable power capacity will double by 2030 — equal to the combined capacity of China, the EU, and Japan. Solar PV will lead, accounting for nearly 80% of this growth, with wind close behind despite ongoing challenges. And Ember’s analysis shows that in the first half of 2025 solar and wind growth exceeded the rise in global electricity demand, meaning clean energy didn’t just keep up, it outpaced it.

What we’re witnessing isn’t just a technical or economic transformation; it’s a profoundly human one. A fundamental shift in how the world powers itself: faster than many expected, yet still not fast enough. National Climate Commitments are starting to reflect this shift — many now include renewable energy goals, a notable change from before, but those goals still need to be strengthened.

This is more than an energy story. This is about what it means for people.

We’ve seen firsthand how rooftop solar cuts household bills and how decentralised systems light up clinics, schools, and homes beyond the reach of national grids. In Nigeria, our partner the African Climate Foundation is driving renewable energy projects that expand access. In Pakistan, The Sunrise Project and Tara Climate Foundation are supporting businesses adopt distributed solar to reduce costs and build resilience.

These aren’t side stories — they’re the new centre of energy resilience and equity.

Behind every solar panel or wind turbine is a story of change and, often, of justice: lower energy bills, increased electricity access for remote communities, local jobs, and enhanced energy security.

But progress is not a given.

Yes, renewables have clearly hit the acceleration phase of their S-curve: costs have fallen, supply chains are maturing, and record solar additions are driving global growth, with wind beginning to recover, though unevenly. Yet that very acceleration is exposing new bottlenecks. Grids and policies need to evolve just as fast to keep the curve steep — and how fast we catch up will determine how fast we stay on the steep section.

This growing tension between rapid deployment and system readiness is shaping the next frontier of the energy transition. As renewable energy undercuts fossil fuels on cost, it’s also reducing wholesale electricity prices and system costs. But here’s the catch: without fair market design and investment in modern grids, these savings won’t reach the people who need them most.

Even more troubling, fossil fuel production plans continue to defy climate logic, with governments set to produce more than twice the fossil fuels in 2030 than compatible with 1.5°C. At the same time, less than 15% of renewable energy finance reaches emerging markets and developing economies — both a missed opportunity and an injustice. The energy transition cannot be called successful if it leaves large parts of the world behind.

So where does that leave us? With a choice.

The IEA’s “main case” scenario still falls short of the COP28 target to triple global renewables by 2030. But its accelerated case analysis shows we can close that gap if we act now to resolve financing barriers, cut red tape, and invest in infrastructure.

At ReNew2030, we’re working toward that future. Our mission is to help countries and regions stay on the steep part of the renewable S-curve by turning shared bottlenecks into solutions that can be scaled and replicated. While record growth is encouraging, not all regions are moving at the pace needed to align with the IEA’s Net Zero 2050 pathway, which requires a sustained global expansion on the order of 15% per year through 2030. Many countries, especially outside the frontrunner markets, need to raise both ambition and execution. Closing that “S-curve gap” is precisely what ReNew2030 was created to do.

Because this transition isn’t only about installing more solar panels. It’s about building systems that work for people. That means grid-ready infrastructure, institutional reforms, and local leadership.

As we approach COP30 in Brazil, we must be clear-eyed: this cannot be another summit of promises. It must deliver on credibility and implementation. To keep global climate goals within reach, we can’t simply restate ambition; we must accelerate deployment wherever it can make the biggest impact. That means every clean megawatt we can deploy faster, every policy we can unblock, every financing barrier we can remove, matters profoundly in keeping 1.5°C alive.

The choice before us is simple: seize this tipping point, or risk watching it slip away.

Rebecca Collyer
Executive Director at ReNew2030
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Powering possibility: How communities are turning the tide on the energy transition

Powering possibility: How communities are turning the tide on the energy transition

A conversation with Instituto Clima e Sociedade, Iniciativa Climática de México and the European Climate Foundation

Around the world, many communities continue to be overlooked in the energy transition. Some are still dependent on costly and polluting fuels to power their lives—often beyond the reach of national grids and excluded by ongoing inequality and underinvestment. Others face different barriers: limited inclusion, gaps in technical capacity, or insufficient institutional support to shape solutions that fit local needs.

Across these regions, the message is the same: the current approach falls short, and the most vulnerable are paying the highest price. To tackle this, our regional partners are leading a growing number of projects with the communities, to build cleaner, more reliable, and more equitable energy futures.

Here are three concrete examples that show what’s possible when local innovation meets global momentum.

The Solution

The energy transition isn’t just about switching to renewables—it’s about working with communities and grounding solutions in lived realities. By involving local voices in the design, ownership, and rollout of clean energy, we can ensure benefits like affordability, reliability, and economic opportunity reach those often left behind. Our goal is to scale up these kinds of projects: community-driven, locally adapted, and powered by renewables energy.

In Brazil, solar energy is powering sustainable rural development and advancing community-led climate solutions. In partnership with Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS) and the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Brasília, the project brings solar panels and agroecological systems to reform settlements in the semi-arid Caatinga region. This initiative not only generates reliable electricity but also supports rainwater collection and irrigation, laying the groundwork for resilient, community-led food systems.

Meanwhile in Mexico, two communities in El Dátil’s desert region welcomed solar-powered kiosks in August 2025. Led by CERCA and supported by Iniciativa Climática de México (ICM), the project replaces costly, polluting diesel generators with clean, consistent solar power that provides essential electricity services in a harsh, off-grid environment. Following this launch, ICM is also working to implement two more kiosks in the communities of La Candelaria and San Luis Gonzaga, expanding access to clean energy across the region.

And across Europe, creative outreach and digital innovation are helping people see themselves in the energy transition. With support from the European Climate Foundation, Greenpeace teams in Slovakia and Romania are meeting people where they are and sparking curiosity about shared energy solutions through lively festivals and door-to-door campaigns reaching over 1,300 apartment blocks, raising awareness about energy communities and their benefits. At the same time, new tools like the Coopérnico Communities App are making local collaboration easier by connecting neighbours to co-create, manage, and share renewable energy projects within their communities.

Inauguration solar kiosk El Dátil in Baja California Sur ©Iniciativa Climática de México
Engagement event in Kosice – September 2025 ©Greenpeace Slovakia
Media visit to Lozorno energy community, September 2025 ©Greenpeace Slovakia
Power-up women offline event in Buchrest, March 2025 ©Greenpeace Romania

The Impact

Whether it’s connecting neighbours through community energy, integrating solar panels with farming systems, or deploying microgrids in remote villages, these solutions are rooted in local realities and built for long-term impact. In every region where this work is underway, we’re seeing what’s possible when communities reclaim their energy futures.

In Brazil’s Northeast, rural families are turning sunlight into reliable power and opportunity. With agrivoltaics systems now powering homes and irrigating crops, communities are seeing reduced energy costs, improved food and water security, and new income from organic agriculture. Technical training ensures farmers can operate and maintain these systems independently, strengthening local ownership and long-term sustainability.

In Mexico’s Baja California Sur, new solar-powered kiosks are delivering reliable, clean energy for essential services like education and community gatherings These systems replace polluting fuel sources, cutting CO2 emissions, and they serve as a foundation for long-term resilience in one of Mexico’s most energy-challenged regions. More than just infrastructure, the kiosks reflect a shift in how energy access is approached: by building local capacity and encouraging community ownership, the initiative goes beyond restoring energy access and begins to reimagine it.

In Europe, communities are becoming active players in shaping their energy futures. Creative outreach has made energy cooperation tangible and relatable—turning renewable power from an abstract goal into everyday action. By connecting neighbours to produce, store, and share renewable energy, these efforts are helping people lower costs, build trust, and take ownership of their local systems. Together, these efforts are turning energy transition from a distant policy goal into something participatory, practical, and personal.

Until recently, these communities were dependent on unreliable energy sources that placed a heavy economic burden, particularly on rural and historically marginalized groups. Today, thanks to locally grounded efforts people are taking the lead in shaping their own energy futures.

These successes aren’t happening in isolation. They are part of a growing network supported by ReNew2030 and partners, where solutions are tested, shared, and adapted across borders. Peer learning and community-to-community exchange are fuelling a global movement grounded in local impact.

New Signals of Change: Insights from Our Network

New Signals of Change: Insights from Our Network

Fresh initiatives, local impact and upcoming events in this quarter’s highlights.

The pace of the energy transition is accelerating, and this past quarter made that clearer than ever. As we look ahead to COP30, now just a few weeks away, it’s worth reflecting on the momentum sparked in New York Climate Week, and how it’s evolved since.

In New York, the signals were strong: new initiatives emerging, deeper collaboration taking shape, and a growing urgency to turn ambition into action. It was a chance to sit down with partners, realign on strategy, and draw momentum from a truly global movement. Conversations spanned power system modernisation and advancing blended finance – bold, urgent challenges but grounded in real opportunity.

This global energy was matched by local delivery. On the ground, our partners continued to deliver real-world change, showing what’s possible when vision is paired with action.

Scroll down to discover the breakthroughs driving the next phase of the transition, and what’s ahead at COP30.

 

Community spotlight

Inside NYCW: Turning grids ambition into action

What’s the missing link in the energy transition? The grid. That’s why, during the UN Energy Transition Solutions Dialogue in New York last month, a catalytic group of funders supported our partners at the Pooled fund on International Energy to launch the Global Grid Catalyst (GGC), a bold new philanthropic effort to accelerate grid expansion and modernisation worldwide.

With $50 million in initial capital and a goal to mobilise over $200 million annually, GGC will focus on driving technical assistance, strengthening local capacity, and fostering innovation to tackle grid bottlenecks. The initiative directly advances the COP29 pledge to deliver 25 million kilometres of grid infrastructure by 2030, with a strong focus on regions that need it most. Read more about it here.

Voices from China’s energy transition: Stories from the ground

Our partner The Energy Foundation is showcasing how distributed renewable energy is delivering real benefits across China – from lower energy costs to cleaner air for households, communities, and small businesses.

In a new feature, CEO & President Prof. Zou Ji, Programme Director Yong Ping Zhang, and local voices share how practical, people-focused solutions are shaping a just and effective energy transition, and the challenges that lie ahead as systems evolve. Watch the video here.

Igniting youth power: Turning climate vision into action in Mexico

For the second year, young changemakers across Mexico came together for Hackathon for Our Future: a transformative event empowering youth to drive a just energy transition.

This year’s edition focused on a critical next step: turning policy into practical solutions. Organised by Nuestro Futuro, A.C. and Práctica Lab, with support from Iniciativa Climática de México, along with Instituto de Desarrollo Energía y Ambiente, the event brought 50 young leaders to Mexico City to exchange ideas and experiences.

As a result, seven bold proposals emerged – spanning community engagement, entrepreneurship, and policy advocacy. Check out the energy in action here.

Creative outreach brings energy communities to life in Central and Eastern Europe

With support from our partner the European Climate Foundation, Greenpeace teams in Slovakia and Romania are combining digital and on-the-ground outreach to raise awareness about the benefits and challenges of energy communities. From lively summer festivals to door-to-door campaigns reaching over 1,300 apartment blocks, they’re meeting people where they are.

In Slovakia, a children’s book focused on energy community is set to launch ahead of Christmas. Meanwhile, in Romania, Slovenia, and beyond, digital campaigns linked to everything from extreme weather to political debates – amplified by influencers – are helping reach wider audiences.

This mix of storytelling, creativity, and local engagement is making energy communities more visible, relatable, and inspiring across Central and Eastern Europe.

Article content

 

  1. African Climate Foundation: A Global South Approach to the Climate-Development Nexus | Project Syndicate →
  2. Iniciativa Climática de México: President Sheinbaum: How to finance development and climate priorities in Mexico? | El Universal →
  3. European Climate Foundation – European Environmental Bureau: Five ways renewables can keep villages alive | New Leaf →
  4. Energy Foundation China: Asean’s renewable push needs inclusive economic models | South China Morning Post →
  5. Tara Climate Foundation – Renewables First: Pakistan’s Solar Revolution Is Bringing Power to the People | Yale Environment 360 →

Calendar: What’s next

COP30 | Nov 10-21 (Belém, Brazil)

Our team will be in Belém for COP30, joining our partners in key conversations on the renewable energy transition and the road ahead. We’re proud to be part of COP30’s Renewables Action Agenda, driving the global push to triple renewable energy.

We’re excited to confirm two key sessions ReNew2030 will organise at the summit:

  • Thursday 13 November: Together with the Global Grids Catalyst and co-hosted by the Global Renewables Alliance and IRENA, we’ll organise a panel on Catalysing Grid and System Solutions for Global Energy Security. Read more →
  • Friday 14 November: We’ll be at the Regional Climate Foundation Pavilion for a conversation on Community Power for Global Impact: Scaling Regional Power Transformations. Read more →

Speaker line-ups and full details coming soon. If you’re attending or would like to connect, reach us at info@renew2030.org.

How Asia’s offshore wind sector is gaining momentum in 2025

How Asia’s Offshore Wind Sector Is Gaining Momentum in 2025

By Sharon Lo Deputy Director, Program Strategy & Insights, Tara Climate Foundation, Chair of ReNew2030’s Implementation Partners Council

Across Asia, momentum continues to grow around offshore wind and renewable energy development in 2025. Recent changes in regulatory frameworks, project planning approaches, and market mechanisms are helping unlock new opportunities for clean energy deployment in countries like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

Tara Climate Foundation, a partner of ReNew2030, has been working with a broad group of organisations to shine a spotlight on offshore wind, making the case for its economic and social benefits, highlighting the vast potential across Asia, as well as providing technical expertise and support to help enable its potential to grow.

From expanded zones for offshore wind projects, to more coordinated permitting processes and large-scale energy auctions, new developments are creating a more supportive landscape for scaling clean energy infrastructure and advancing national energy transitions.

Japan: New Framework to Support Floating Offshore Wind Development

Japan has passed a long-anticipated bill paving the way for the development of floating offshore wind projects within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The new framework, set to take effect by April 2026, introduces several measures that enable new wind energy projects, including designating development zones in the EEZ, a formal licensing structure, the establishment of a stakeholder consultation council, and a streamlined environmental assessment process led by the government. Earlier this month, the Japan government announced its industry vision for offshore wind, including a target to develop 15 GW of floating capacity by 2040. These developments mark a significant step forward in unlocking Japan’s offshore wind potential, following years of supportive policy engagement and technical dialogue by a range of stakeholders.

South Korea: Landmark “One Stop Shop” Policy to Streamline Offshore Wind Permitting

In a major boost for South Korea’s offshore wind ambitions, the National Assembly passed the Special Act on the Promotion of Offshore Wind Power in February 2025. Informally known as the “One Stop Shop Act,” the policy is designed to simplify the complex permitting and regulatory processes that have historically slowed down projects. By centralising and expediting approvals, the Act is expected to significantly reduce project timelines. South Korea has set a target of 40.7 GW of installed wind capacity by 2038, and the implementation of this new approach will be key to achieving that goal.

Philippines: Green Energy Auctions Accelerate Renewable Energy Capacity

The Philippines’ Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) has emerged as a critical driver of renewable energy growth. Since its inception in 2022, nearly 12 GW of contracts have been awarded across three rounds. The most recent auction in February 2025 attracted 7.5 GW worth of bids – exceeding its 4.6 GW target – with strong interest in pumped hydro and geothermal. Looking ahead, over 10 GW of solar and wind capacity are expected to be awarded in the next round (GEA-4) scheduled for September 2025. Notably, the recently announced GEA-5 will mark the country’s first auction dedicated solely to fixed-bottom offshore wind, offering 3.3 GW of capacity for delivery between 2028 and 2030. Efforts are underway to ensure auction designs support long-term bankability, including mechanisms to address inflation and currency risks, helping maximise the economic benefits and promote investment in wind power.

These recent developments show there is growing potential for offshore wind to deliver clean, reliable power at scale – supporting the region’s economic ambitions while contributing to long-term energy security and climate resilience.

Continued collaboration, investment and innovation are key to creating a thriving offshore wind sector.

Together with our partners from the ReNew2030 network, we can keep building towards a renewable transition that works for people in Asia, and around the world.

Let’s keep building momentum for a fair transition – together

Let’s keep building momentum for a fair transition – together

We are already more than halfway through 2025 and momentum for the renewable transition continues to build, with the sector setting new records.

From January to June, wind and solar generated roughly 9% of total global electricity – more than ever at this point in the calendar year.

This isn’t just a shift in technology, it’s a shift in the mindset of businesses. Despite political uncertainty, more than half of 1,477business leaders who responded to a recent poll plan to relocate their operations within 5 years to better access renewable sources. Their motivations are clear: greater energy security for their companies, lower bills, and higher profits.

Across our network, our partners are leading the way, bringing local solutions to the forefront of the global energy conversation. But as we approach COP30, we still have so much work ahead to ensure a fair transition.

 

Community spotlight

Asia’s Energy Future is Being Reshaped Through Collaborative Philanthropy

Asia consumes more than 50% of the world’s energy, but receives far less support than needed to shift toward clean power sources.

That’s why our partners at Tara Climate Foundation, together with leading philanthropies, have launched the Just Energy Transition (JET) Community at the recent Philanthropy Asia Summit. The JET Community is a platform designed to unite funders, clean energy experts, and local communities to accelerate clean energy solutions across Asia. Its goal is to drive a just and inclusive energy transition that reduces emissions, creates jobs, improves livelihoods, and builds healthier, more resilient communities.

By fostering collaboration and scaling impact, the JET Community aims to unlock one of the greatest opportunities of our time: a cleaner, fairer energy future for Asia.

Woman standing on podium giving a talk at the Philanthropy Asia Summit

Kraków Community Forum Sparks a Collective Vision for Europe’s Energy Future

180 participants from 42 countries gathered in Kraków for the European Energy Communities Forum, supported by our partner the European Climate Foundation.

Bringing together energy cooperatives, local authorities, NGOs, and citizen-led initiatives, the Forum advanced the growing movement for energy democracy across Europe. Together, attendees showcased the transformative power of community-led projects – lowering bills and building resilience locally, while accelerating the transition globally. The event concluded with the launch of the Forum Declaration – a unifying statement of the values, goals, and policy demands to accelerate Europe’s energy transition.

Investigative Reporting Is Powering Accountability in the Energy Transition

#PowerTrackeris a groundbreaking digital tool that tracks and maps renewable energy projects and coal-fired power stations scheduled for decommissioning across Southern Africa.

Developed by journalists for journalists at Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism, the tool is expanding its reach and impact with support from the African Climate Foundation’s New Economy Hub.

In the past year, Oxpeckers has used the platform to publish a series of hard-hitting investigations, from stories on community trusts and land rights to green technology innovation and the flow of critical minerals. These reports amplify the voices of communities at the front lines of the energy transition and ensure that equity, transparency, and accountability remain central to South Africa’s clean energy shift.

By putting powerful data tools in the hands of storytellers and researchers, #PowerTracker is helping ensure the energy transition is not just about infrastructure, but also fair. Explore the tool here and see how journalism is helping shape a fairer energy future.

Image of man in high-vis vest and hard hat stood in between solar panels

The Surprising, Complex Story of Pakistan’s Solar Spring

Our partner Renewables First, has released a new report: “Leader of One or Leader of None – China’s Choice for Clean Over Coal in Pakistan.”

It examines the complex role China played in unlocking the rapid growth of renewable energy in Pakistan, and what lessons can be applied to other countries.

Soaring electricity prices and low-cost solar panels from China drove a solar boom, with imports surging to 39 GW, more than three-quarters of Pakistan’s entire installed generation capacity. This shift is displacing coal plants – quietly transforming rooftops, farms, and factory sheds in just five years.

ReNew2030 at TED Countdown Summit: Driving Global Climate Solutions from Nairobi

This past June, the ReNew2030 team joined in the TED Countdown Summit 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya – an invite-only gathering of global innovators, business leaders, scientists, policymakers, youth and activists, all committed to accelerating practical solutions to the climate crisis.

Hosted in Kenya, a clean energy leader with nearly 90% renewable electricity, the summit provided space to hear practical stories about implementing energy solutions on the ground.

A TED Talk from one of our partners, Sebastián Kind, was a highlight. Sebastiánshared how he helped transform Argentina into a global model for renewable energy growth. His talk offers key lessons on smart policy design, how to unlock investments, public-private cooperation, and visionary leadership, demonstrating his hands-on efforts – and tangible results in accelerating the energy transition in developing economies.

Read more about the Summit here and learn how these ideas can be adapted globally to power a cleaner, fairer future.

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Update from The Global Clean Energy Network (GCEN)

The Global Clean Energy Network (GCEN) – a collection of organisations working to drive the scaling of wind and solar in a just and equitable way – gathered in early July to shape its shared agenda for the year ahead.

The network focused on how to fast-track iconic renewable energy zones, influence key global and regional decision-making spaces, and stay strategically ahead of fossil fuel development over the next decade.

A highlight of the meeting was the launch of the GCEN Global South Collective – a dedicated effort to centre the voices, needs, and leadership of the Global South in the renewable energy transition.

The road ahead is ambitious, but so is the power of this network. Together, GCEN is building momentum for a renewable energy future that works for everyone and leaves no region behind.

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Unlocking wind and solar through regional action

Unlocking Wind and Solar Through Regional Action – 2024 Annual Report

This first annual ReNew2030 report focuses on stories of impact from the field, set against a backdrop of international statistics showing progress in wind and solar and reflecting on whether we are on track to meet our goal.

  Read our report

Our mission is bold yet focused: to scale wind and solar power five-fold by 2030 in the 20 countries that account for around 80% of global power sector emissions.

These countries hold the key to bending the emissions curve – and ReNew2030 exists to help tip the balance. By supporting catalytic partnerships, driving strategic influence, and backing projects with real-world impact, ReNew2030 is working to reshape energy systems in ways that are just, inclusive, and grounded in local priorities.

Regional climate foundations leading local change

In 2024, ReNew2030 regional partners made remarkable progress across diverse geographies, often navigating complex and volatile contexts. Despite these challenges, regional climate foundations remained resilient, ambitious, and solutions-driven to deliver tangible results.

Driving international impact with our partners

2024 was the year of sustaining the momentum on the 3xRenewables goal announced at COP28 in Dubai. Throughout the year, ReNew2030 played a pivotal role in driving accountability and progress toward implementation, supporting a diverse network of transnational partners across regions.


POOLED FUND ON INTERNATIONAL ENERGY

With support from its transnational partner, the Pooled fund on International Energy (PIE), ReNew2030 collaborated with the Global Renewables Alliance to host the first-ever Global Renewables Summit in September 2024 in New York. This gathering brought together governments, private sector, philanthropies, international organisations, and academia – uniting all key stakeholders for the first time to strategise on accelerating the global race to tripling renewable energy capacity.


THE SUNRISE PROJECT

The Sunrise Project played an important role in engaging financial institutions in global policy-making spaces. Through its flagship Global Finance Programme, Sunrise advanced efforts to align financial
systems with clean energy goals, drawing on insights from its work in Asia and Europe. One major initiative was the Sustainable European Central Bank coalition, calling for financial policies that facilitate the energy transition such as dual interest rates.


INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE POLITICS HUB

Another transnational partner, International Climate Politics Hub (ICPH), leveraged its trusted diplomatic network to push for progressive climate policy at the global level. Throughout the year, ICPH remained steadfast in its efforts, ensuring the most ambitious outcomes possible, despite a challenging
political environment. At COP29, where some parties sought to weaken last year’s Global Stocktake language on the energy transition, ICPH’s engagement was instrumental in holding the line.

Strategic storytelling and influence

ReNew2030 amplifies its impact through media coverage, thought leadership, and high-profile platforms, ensuring its work reaches key audiences. TED talks, opinion articles in Financial Times Sustainable Views, and strategic engagements at COP29 have elevated its visibility, driving conversations on renewable energy.

Tap on the priority areas below to discover more details:
Authentic storytelling that inspires
Broadcast and media highlights
Connecting through digital channels
Making waves at major global platforms
From TED talks to the Financial Times: Reaching global audiences

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Authentic storytelling that inspires

ReNew2030 is expanding how it tells its story – launching a voice-note video series featuring community energy successes, and publishing partner-driven blogs on overcoming structural barriers and building inclusive momentum for renewables.

2

Broadcast and media highlights

ReNew2030’s narrative was featured on the NPR TED Radio Hour, bringing solar energy challenges and opportunities to mainstream audiences. Media moments like this help ensure that the clean energy transition remains part of the global public dialogue.

3

Connecting through digital channels

With the launch of our quarterly newsletter in 2024 and a refreshed, more accessible website, ReNew2030 has strengthened its digital presence – sharing partner stories, spotlighting achievements, and deepening engagement across the coalition.

4

Making waves at major global platforms

Whether at New York Climate Week – where ReNew2030 co-hosted the first ever Global Renewables Summit – COP29, or the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, ReNew2030 takes part in many of the main global climate events. At COP29, we partnered with We Don’t Have Time to spotlight renewable energy solutions, alongside the African Climate Foundation and Tara Climate Foundation. In Berlin, we co-hosted a strategic convening with the Global Renewables Alliance, aligning voices on finance, permitting, workforce development, and countering disinformation.

5

From TED talks to the Financial Times: Reaching global audiences

ReNew2030 has taken centre stage across influential media and thought leadership platforms. TED talks featuring early ReNew2030 perspectives and a compelling case study by Tara Climate Foundation have reached over 1.3 million viewers, sparking conversations well beyond the climate community. Opinion articles in FT Sustainable Views have reinforced the coalition’s key messages, from scaling solar to unlocking finance.

Modernising the Grid: The missing link to scaling renewables

Modernising the Grid: The missing link to scaling renewables

The world is making significant strides toward a clean energy future, but our electricity grids are stuck in the past. Unless we rapidly modernise grid infrastructure, the entire net zero vision is at risk.

Outdated, underfunded, and overstretched, electricity grids have become one of the biggest barriers to scaling renewable energy. Wind and solar projects are being delayed or cancelled due to grid bottlenecks while curtailment – the intentional reduction of renewable energy output – is expected to rise in areas where grid flexibility and storage capacity remain limited. Modern, resilient grids are essential for economic and social development, and for protecting communities from climate impacts like heatwaves, wildfires and floods. Despite growing investments, regional disparities and infrastructure gaps risk leaving some communities behind in the energy transition.

But solutions exist and philanthropy has an important role to play in modernising the grid infrastructure. Over 60 countries and 100 non-state actors have signed the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, committing to add or refurbish 25 million kilometres of grids by 2030. At ReNew2030, we believe that philanthropy is uniquely placed to accelerate grid modernisation. By unlocking investment, streamlining policies, and supporting regulatory reforms and local capacity building, we can help turn electricity grids into the backbone of the clean energy transition.
Through conversations with experts and partners in the sector, we identified key barriers to progress and explored how philanthropy can be a powerful catalyst for change.

What are the key challenges to grid modernisation?

Lengthy regulatory processes

Planning and approval for grid projects is often slow and complex and in some cases takes up to a decade. Complex permitting requirements, environmental assessments, and stakeholder consultations can create bottlenecks that slow down project development. These delays not only hinder the integration of renewable energy but also impact grid reliability and resilience.

Current regulatory frameworks often lack the flexibility to support rapid investment and innovation in grid infrastructure. Streamlining these processes, while maintaining robust oversight, is crucial to building a modern, resilient, and renewable-ready grid.

Philanthropy can play a critical role in accelerating regulatory reform through policy engagement and public education. Raising awareness of the urgent need and broad benefits of grid modernisation is key. By funding research and engaging with policymakers, philanthropic organisations can help shape policies, encourage investment, and support faster, more effective approval processes.

Unlocking investment

Modernising the grid is one of the most critical – and complex – challenges in the transition to renewable energy. The need to expand and upgrade aging infrastructure while integrating variable renewable energy sources is well established. Yet the sheer scale of investment – estimated at USD 717 billion annually through 2030, combined with regulatory fragmentation, uncertain financial returns and market design barriers, continues to hold back private capital.

This investment gap is especially stark in the Global South, where the urgent need to expand and modernise transmission and distribution infrastructure poses a significant hurdle to achieving energy transition goals.

While advanced economies grapple with modernising their aging grid infrastructure, some developing economies are still laying the foundations for their power systems. This makes grid investment not only a matter of modernisation, but a cornerstone of development, resilience and energy equity.

To bridge this gap, philanthropic capital can play a catalytic role. By funding early-stage pilots, strengthening institutional and technical capacity, supporting research, and addressing market failures – particularly in regions facing persistent investment gaps, philanthropy can help de-risk innovation and attract commercial investment.

A powerful example is the Renewables Investment Platform For Limitless Energy (RIPLE), a $500 million initiative led by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority with strategic support from our partner, The African Climate Foundation. Designed as a systems-change effort, RIPLE is unlocking private capital to build a scalable, resilient renewable energy ecosystem in Nigeria. With 300 MW of renewable energy projects already in the pipeline, it demonstrates how public-private collaboration can drive large-scale transformation. RIPLE offers a replicable model for grid investment and clean energy deployment in emerging markets.

Equipping local actors with the skills and tools to design, manage, and maintain future-ready grids is essential. This includes workforce development and technical education, alongside support for the digital transformation of electricity systems — ensuring they are smart, adaptive, and capable of balancing supply and demand in real time.

The power of philanthropy

Philanthropy can play a transformative role in accelerating grid expansion and modernisation – bridging gaps often left by governments and private investors.

By catalysing progress, de-risking innovation, and strengthening institutional capacity, philanthropy can help deliver a just, inclusive and sustainable clean energy future.

2025: A pivotal year for renewable energy

2025: A pivotal year for renewable energy

The momentum for renewable energy has never been stronger. In 2024, global clean energy investments exceeded $2 trillion for the first time – marking a major shift in how the world powers itself. At the forefront of this transformation are wind and solar, now the fastest-growing energy sources globally.

In the Global South, renewable energy adoption is accelerating at twice the pace of the Global North. This rapid progress underscores the potential for renewables to deliver affordable, reliable energy and unlock new opportunities in regions that have historically faced limited energy access.

As the impact of the climate crisis intensifies, the urgency to act becomes undeniable. With the next cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) set to be submitted ahead of COP30, we’re at a critical crossroads. The choices made now will determine whether we can stay on track to limit the global temperature rise to well below 1.5°C.

Despite political uncertainties, this moment offers us a unique opportunity to strengthen renewable energy commitments and expand access to sustainable power for all.

Let’s make 2025 count. Share this newsletter, start conversations, and be a part of the global push for a just, renewable future.

 

Community Spotlight

Clean energy is powering progress in remote Mexican communities

In northwestern Mexico, communities once left in the dark are now lighting the way with solar energy. Iniciativa Climática de México (ICM) and CERCA – Energía y Aire Limpios are working to bring affordable and sustainable electricity to areas long disconnected from the national energy grid.

Despite being off-grid, these regions have some of the highest solar potential in the country. In places like Puerto Chale and El Dátil, residents previously relied on expensive diesel generators that provided electricity for only five hours a day. While solar panel systems had been installed in the past, they proved unsustainable over time. This was due to high maintenance costs and a lack of capacity to operate them, which led to many solar panels being abandoned or sold.

To address this, ICM and CERCA supported the formation of energy cooperatives and partnered with local organisations to install solar-powered kiosks. These kiosks now provide reliable electricity for educational and social spaces.

Both communities have embraced solar energy as a cost-effective, low-maintenance option, recognising their ability to address local electricity shortages. This collaborative model highlights what’s possible when local solutions and clean technology come together. Their success is a reminder that renewable energy is not just about technology – it’s about people, resilience, and opportunity.

Shaping the future of South Korea’s offshore wind power

South Korea has taken a major step forward in accelerating its renewable energy transition with the Offshore Wind Power Promotion Act (OFW Act) – widely known as the “One Stop Shop Act”. This milestone simplifies the country’s complex permitting process for offshore wind development, unlocking faster development and investment.

Over the past four years, our partners have collaborated with local organisations to support public education efforts and share insights on challenges surrounding offshore wind permitting. These initiatives have helped raise awareness of the role streamlined processes can play in scaling clean energy.

The Act is expected to reduce project approval times by approximately eight months, helping South Korea progress toward its target of 40.7 GW of wind power by 2038.

Its successful implementation will be an important milestone in strengthening the country’s renewable energy landscape. Read more about the OFW Act here.

Highlights from Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD)

At the recent Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, we hosted an event bringing together experts to discuss how best to shape narratives around the energy transition.

Through collaboration with our partners, the session helped us to understand what resonates with different audiences and how we can communicate the energy transition more effectively.

We found that the most engaging narratives involve on-the-ground change, compelling storytelling, and local success stories.

We’re excited to carry these learnings into our communications work, and want to thank all partners who participated in the event for helping us to build a stronger, more impactful clean energy narrative.

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The future of grids infrastructure

Grids are the backbone of modern energy systems, but to power a clean energy future, they must be upgraded, expanded, and optimised. Without urgent upgrades, ageing infrastructure will slow renewable integration and strain electricity systems.

Philanthropy plays a key role in accelerating grid transformation – by bringing stakeholders together, de-risking innovative solutions, and pushing for smart, forward-looking policies.  Modernising grids isn’t just technical – it’s vital for a clean, resilient, and equitable energy transition.

Hear more from Ana Barillas, grids expert, at Aurora Energy Research, in this explainer video.