Clean & renewable energy

This archive tracks real progress in clean and renewable energy — from solar and wind expansions to grid breakthroughs and policy wins. More than 850 articles document what’s working, where it’s scaling, and who’s driving the shift away from fossil fuels. If you follow energy news for signal rather than noise, this is a useful place to start.

Rows of solar panels in a Chinese desert reflecting China wind and solar capacity growth under the Five-Year Plan clean energy targets

China plans to double its already massive clean energy supply by 2035

By / / Good News For Humankind

China’s new climate pledge to the United Nations sets a target of 3,600 gigawatts of wind and solar power by 2035 — more than the entire electricity-generating capacity of the United States today, and roughly double what China has already built. The commitment is woven into the country’s next Five-Year Plan, which directs state banks, provinces, and manufacturers to move in the same direction. Because China makes about 80% of the world’s solar panels, every factory it scales up makes clean energy cheaper for buyers in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and everywhere else. That ripple effect is what makes this pledge matter far beyond one country’s borders — it lowers the cost of a livable future for all of us.

Solar panels and wind turbines generating clean electricity for an article about renewable energy capacity

Renewables hit 49% of global power capacity for the first time

By / / Good News For Humankind

Renewable energy capacity crossed a landmark threshold in 2025, with global installed power surpassing 5,100 gigawatts and representing 49% of all capacity worldwide for the first time in history. The International Renewable Energy Agency reported a single-year addition of 692 gigawatts, led overwhelmingly by solar power, which alone accounted for 75% of new renewable installations. Clean energy now represents 85.6% of all new power capacity added globally, signaling that the transition has moved from aspiration to economic reality. The milestone carries implications beyond climate — nations with strong renewable bases demonstrated measurably greater energy security amid ongoing geopolitical instability.

A row of electric buses at a charging depot for an article about electric buses India

Telangana orders 915 electric buses in a major clean transit push

By / / Good News For Humankind

Electric buses in India took a major step forward as Telangana ordered 915 zero-emission vehicles, one of the largest single clean transit procurements in the country’s history. The purchase will serve routes across Hyderabad and other urban centers, reducing air pollution for millions of residents who depend on public buses and have the least ability to escape street-level exhaust. The order builds on India’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, which targets 10,000 electric buses nationwide, and adds real momentum to a transition that analysts say is becoming increasingly economically compelling. As India’s renewable energy grid expands, the emissions benefit of each electric bus will only grow over time.

Rooftop solar panels on a row of newly built houses for an article about solar panels on new buildings

Wales becomes first part of the U.K. to mandate solar panels on new buildings

By / / Good News For Humankind

Solar panels on new buildings became mandatory in Wales in 2022, making it the first part of the United Kingdom to embed renewable energy directly into its construction code. The rules apply to most new homes, commercial buildings, and major extensions, with the Welsh Government estimating the change will cut carbon emissions from new buildings by roughly 75 percent. Because retrofitting existing buildings costs far more than building right the first time, the policy addresses one of the highest-leverage points in climate action. Wales joins California and France among a small group of governments willing to make clean energy generation a baseline expectation rather than an optional incentive.

A modern electric bus on a city street in Dakar for an article about Senegal's electric bus network

Senegal becomes first Sub-Saharan nation to launch an all-electric public bus network

By / / Good News For Humankind

Senegal’s electric bus network in Dakar has made history as the first fully electric public transit system in Sub-Saharan Africa, operated through national bus company Dakar Dem Dikk and powered by renewable energy. The rollout replaces decades-old diesel buses that have long degraded air quality across one of West Africa’s most densely populated cities. For the millions of low-income commuters who depend on public transit daily, the shift promises cleaner air, quieter rides, and more reliable service. Beyond Dakar, the achievement offers a concrete proof of concept for cities across the continent weighing clean mobility against fossil fuel lock-in.

A row of electric vehicles charging at public stations for an article about electric car sales in the E.U.

Electric car sales surpass petrol vehicles across the E.U. for the first time

By / / Good News For Humankind

Electric car sales reached a historic milestone in December 2025, surpassing petrol vehicles for the first time across the European Union. Battery-electric vehicles claimed 22.6 percent of new car registrations, narrowly edging out petrol at 22.5 percent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. The shift reflects years of falling EV prices, improved battery range, and rapid expansion of public charging infrastructure. Hybrids led all categories at 44 percent, signaling a broad move away from fossil fuels even among cautious buyers. The milestone arrived ahead of schedule and strengthens confidence in Europe’s 2050 climate neutrality goal.

Aerial view of large industrial energy facility for an article about compressed air energy storage

China opens the world’s largest compressed air energy storage plant

By / / Good News For Humankind

China has switched on the world’s largest compressed air energy storage plant, a 300-megawatt facility in Shandong province that more than doubles the previous global record for this technology. Built by China Huaneng Group, the plant stores surplus renewable electricity by compressing air into underground caverns, then releases it on demand to power roughly 300,000 households. This matters because storing clean energy at scale remains one of the central engineering challenges of the global energy transition. Unlike batteries, compressed air storage requires no rare minerals and avoids chemical degradation over time, making it a promising long-duration option worldwide.

Aerial view of rooftop solar panels on Australian suburban homes for an article about Australia renewable energy milestone — 13 words.

Australia hits 50% renewable energy milestone for the first time

By / / Good News For Humankind

Australia renewable energy hit a historic milestone in 2024, with solar and wind together supplying more than 50% of the country’s electricity for the first time ever. A decade ago, coal dominated at roughly 75% of the grid while renewables barely reached double digits, making this shift one of the fastest energy transformations on record. Rooftop solar drove much of the change, with over 3.5 million Australian homes now generating their own power. The milestone matters because electricity is one of Australia’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and the next target, 80%, is already within reach.

Offshore wind turbines rising from the North Sea at dusk for an article about the North Sea wind hub

Ten nations pledge €11 billion for a 100GW North Sea wind hub

By / / Good News For Humankind

North Sea wind hub: Ten European nations have pledged €11 billion to build a 100-gigawatt offshore wind network in the North Sea, enough clean electricity to power roughly 100 million homes. The commitment, formalized through the Esbjerg Declaration, is the largest coordinated offshore wind investment in European history. Beyond the raw numbers, the agreement marks a fundamental shift from competing national energy projects toward a shared multinational grid spanning northwestern Europe. It directly addresses Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels while setting ambitious targets of 100GW by 2030 and 300GW by 2050.