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.

Download Report PDF

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.

Scaling renewable energy investment through transformative platforms in Nigeria

In Nigeria, the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and its partners have been at the forefront of expanding renewable energy investment, fostering public-private partnerships, and unlocking new funding streams to accelerate the energy transition. Their efforts span multiple states, demonstrating how targeted interventions can drive system-wide change.

Strengthening capacity and constituency for renewable energy in South Africa

In South Africa, efforts have focused on strengthening capacity among key organisations and communities to advance renewable energy solutions. With ReNew2030’s support, ACF established a civil society and communications network with expertise in energy planning, climate adaptation, and development.

Leveraging elections to secure policy wins in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the government has committed to a 2030 power sector decarbonisation plan, allocating £40 billion annually to develop 75 GW of renewables and 20 GW of battery storage, alongside planned reforms to planning and grid connection processes. The ECF and its partners played a critical role in safeguarding these commitments and ensuring that decarbonisation remained a top-five priority for the new government.

Driving scalable solutions for distributed solar PV in China

In 2024, China sustained its strong momentum in renewable energy expansion, adding nearly 300 GW of wind and solar power, with distributed solar PV (DPV) accounting for almost half of this growth. However, key challenges – such as limited distribution network capacity, rural electrification gaps, and micro-grid constraints – continue to hinder DPV’s full potential. To address these barriers, Energy Foundation China launched targeted pilot projects in key provinces, testing scalable solutions for broader implementation.

Growing the momentum for Pakistan’s solar boom

Over the years, Tara Climate Foundation’s local partners, such as the Pakistan Renewable Energy Coalition, have worked to shape a more enabling environment for renewables. Even as a high sales tax on imported solar panels was proposed, their engagement contributed to maintaining favourable import conditions to improve affordability and access, which in turn supported a steady rise in solar adoption from 2022 through 2024.

Catalysing offshore wind development in the Philippines through multi-stakeholder collaboration

Catalysing offshore wind development in the Philippines, Tara Climate Foundation supported its partners in playing an important role in the first ever offshore wind masterplan feasibility study in the Philippines, laying critical groundwork for the country’s large-scale offshore wind development. The initiative was conceived by low-carbon transition investor Clime Capital and energy distributor Aboitiz Power Corporation, in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Institute, the US Trade and Development Agency, and Tara.

Empowering communities through renewable energy projects in Mexico

ReNew2030 partner Iniciativa Climática de México (ICM) is driving community-led renewable energy through Ejido Solar, a transformative initiative that brings photovoltaic solar technology to rural communities in northern Mexico. The model enables ejidatarios (communal landholders) to develop solar power on their land in collaboration with local governments and private sector partners, ensuring community ownership and long-term benefits.

Strengthening community participation in wind energy development in Brazil

In Brazil, Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS), has advanced community engagement in renewable energy planning, ensuring that energy transition is both inclusive and locally driven. Through an interstate consultation in Pernambuco, Ceará, and Paraíba, iCS facilitated collaboration between affected communities and the state governments.

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.

ICPH logo

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.

Barriers and Levers

The urgency and complexity of the challenge demand a whole system response. Governments, businesses, and communities must move in concert. To help overcome these barriers, ReNew2030 has identified seven strategic levers to drive change at both national and across regions – aligning efforts across geographies to accelerate the energy transition.

Barriers

Barriers to scaling up wind and solar energy

Insufficient government ambition and action

National and multilateral targets and plans are not ambitious enough, lack detail and omit considerations of equity and justice.

Not enough investment

To stay below 1.5°C clean energy investments must reach trillions annually by 2030, and markets will only get us part of the way there.

Slow public acceptance and permitting

Permitting delays are slowing the transition and insufficient consultation with communities creates public opposition and project delays.

Misinformation about renewable energy

Cutting edge information and communication about renewables is not accessible and widespread, myths on cost and reliability are still pervasive.

Sub-scale support for the workforce transition

Training for workers in the renewable energy space is critically needed, alongside re-skilling for those working in coal and gas industries.

Levers

Levers for accelerating the transition to renewable power systems

Grassroots organising and campaigns

We mobilise local communities and people-powered movements, equipping them with the key arguments that help them win local discussions to create pressure to shift to clean energy.

Strategic narrative

We raise public awareness and support for renewables through investigative journalism, opinion articles and digital campaigns, creating a drumbeat of stories on the clean energy transition.

Government policy, advocacy and research

We combine “inside track” technical assistance for governments with “outside track” advocacy, often using our own data, analysis and research to advocate for more ambitious government commitments.

Strategic litigation

We file lawsuits to change policy, including to remove legal barriers for renewables and to delay or stop coal and gas projects.

Strategic diplomacy

We engage political leaders through diplomatic channels, coalition building, embassy engagement and other forms of international cooperation to influence government-to-government action.

Financial system mobilisation

We advocate for innovative climate finance policies while pushing financial institutions and regulators away from fossil investments and into renewables. We do this through data sharing, risk analysis and by creating public and investor pressure.

Corporate sector mobilisation

We push corporate leaders to demand clean energy by engaging them through trade associations, business forums and corporate lobbying, and provide analysis and technical assistance to help them set and achieve clean energy goals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.