Trend

Renewable Energy Growth

Wind and solar are the fastest-growing sources of electricity in history. 4kodiak/Getty Images.

About This Trend

Wind and solar energy are the fastest-growing electricity sources in history, and renewables broadly accounted for 30 percent of global electricity generation in 2023. Still, much more is needed to reach climate targets, and the distribution of renewables is uneven.

Some places across the U.S. and Europe with highly concentrated renewables are seeing energy prices go negative, which could disincentivize further production. This is already being seen in California, whose public utilities commission voted to reduce the number of credits that residents with solar receive from utility companies.

For planners, this trend highlights the need for updated policies and infrastructure that support equitable energy access and grid stability. Planners may also need to work with local governments and utilities to ensure incentives remain in place to encourage continued investment in renewable energy at the community level.

Trend Updates

Jan. 27, 2026 — 2025 Updates

Clean energy has reached its highest share of world energy production since the 1940s. June 2025 marked the first time that solar power took the top spot in the EU energy production. China’s solar arrays have reached over one terawatt of energy capacity. According to the International Energy Agency, $2.2 trillion in global energy investments is being directed toward renewables, grid modernization, and nuclear energy—double the amount directed toward oil, coal, and gas

In 2025 the Trump administration canceled $8 billion in clean energy investments and reinvested in the coal industry, despite coal’s significant climate and air pollution impacts and higher costs than natural gas. However, low- and zero-carbon sources of energy, such as geothermal and nuclear energy, are also seeing rare broad-based bipartisan support in the U.S.

Bird protection technology on wind turbines in Tasmania has lowered the amount of bird deaths. And a Cornell research team has developed a clean hydrogen production method with potable water as a byproduct.