Conversion of sunlight to electricity via PV or concentrated solar power
In 2025, renewable energy has met all new electricity demand growth, with solar and wind leading. Fossil fuel generation has stabilized or declined, marking a shift towards clean energy. Experts see this as a turning point, with fossil share expected to drop further by 2035.
The UK government argues that a decentralised grid of wind, solar and storage strengthens national security by reducing reliance on large fossil fuel plants and vulnerable interconnectors, while stressing resilience against cyber and physical threats. Ministers point to Ukraine lessons and ongoing undersea-cable protections as proof of progress.
A wave of local and state actions is shaping the data-center boom. New rules aim to curb power use, water consumption and cost pressures, while critics warn of overreach and uneven economic impacts.
Solar power has for May provided more electricity than coal for the first time, reaching 12.8% vs 12.2% and signaling a lasting shift toward renewables amid policy headwinds. Emitted by Ember, SEIA and Wood Mackenzie, the data show solar remains the leading source for new power as coal declines. Trump’s plan to bolster coal faces industry pushback.
The system operator has offered grid connection dates to more than 700 shovel-ready clean energy projects, totaling about 37 gigawatts, as Britain advances its 2030 net-zero target. Reforms replace a bottleneck caused by speculative projects, with stricter criteria to connect and deliver faster deployment.
Zimbabwe moves to bring private solar generation onto the national grid with a 25-year PPA under an open-access model. The Dolcin Trading Solar PV Plant aims to deliver 50 MW to major consumers, leveraging a System Operations Agreement with ZETDC to strengthen electricity reliability and crowd in private investment.
Recent data shows a sharp rise in home battery installations across several states, driven by high electricity prices and policies that reward rooftop solar plus storage. Utilities and tech firms see these distributed assets powering a future grid and supporting data centers, AI workloads, and virtual power plants. Major players are expanding partnerships to coordinate thousands of home batteries for grid needs.
The UK faces a second record heatwave this summer as experts warn of rising food prices and stressed farming systems. A government plan for farming promises long-term support and nature-friendly systems, but critics say it underfunds implementation and pushes risk onto farmers amid mounting heat and price pressures.