What it is
REN21's Global Status Report is a comprehensive annual review of the state of renewable energy worldwide. Published since 2005, it covers policy, investment, and deployment across all renewable technologies with detailed regional breakdowns. The 2024 edition draws on data from over 100 countries.
Why we picked this
Where BNEF and IEA focus on projections, REN21 focuses on what has actually happened. It is the most complete retrospective record of renewable energy progress, covering technologies from utility-scale solar to community biogas. Essential for understanding the current state of play.
Key takeaways
- The report covers all renewable technologies including solar, wind, hydro, bioenergy, geothermal, and ocean energy with country-level deployment data.
- REN21 tracks not just generation capacity but also policy adoption, noting that over 170 countries now have renewable energy targets.
- The report identifies regional leaders and laggards, making it useful for comparative analysis of transition progress across different economic contexts.