Renewable Energy and the 2026 Statistical Review of World Energy
The global energy transition has reached an important stage. Renewable energy is no longer simply supplementing conventional generation. It is becoming the principal source of growth in the world’s energy system.
The Energy Institute’s 2026 Statistical Review of World Energy records that global energy demand exceeded 600 exajoules for the first time in 2025. Renewables made the largest contribution to the increase in total energy supply, the first time this has occurred outside a period of economic recession. Solar accounted for approximately 71% of that renewable growth.
These figures demonstrate the scale of investment flowing into new generation. They also point towards the next major challenge for governments, developers and their legal advisers: delivering the networks, connections, storage and planning approvals required to turn installed capacity into reliable electricity.