Record amounts of green energy added to global grid in 2016

Madeleine Cuff
clock • 2 min read

Despite 23 per cent fall in global investment a record 161GW of new renewables capacity was added to power grid last year, new data shows

The world is still building new wind and solar farms at breakneck speed despite a slowdown in investment coming into the sector, new figures published today by REN21 reveal. A record 161GW of new clean...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Madeleine Cuff
Author spotlight

Madeleine Cuff

View profile
More from Madeleine Cuff

From SEMTA to Enginuity: Engineering skills body rebrands

Inside Enginuity's plan to build a workforce for the future

More on Energy

Study: Smart heat pump trial sees homes slash electricity use by a third
Energy

Study: Smart heat pump trial sees homes slash electricity use by a third

EXCLUSIVE: OVO and Nesta trial of 58 London homes fitted with smart, automated heat pumps achieves significant reduction in electricity use and energy bills

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 24 October 2025 • 3 min read
How the government can maximise benefits for UK communities through the Local Power Plan
Energy

How the government can maximise benefits for UK communities through the Local Power Plan

Partner Insight: Ahead of the publication of the Local Power Plan, Stew Horne - group head of sector intelligence & external affairs at the Energy Saving Trust - sets out how the government can ensure communities across the UK reap the benefits of clean...

Stew Horne, Energy Saving Trust
clock 23 October 2025 • 6 min read
Fatih Birol: Age of electricity is here, but dark geopolitical shadow looms over energy sector
Energy

Fatih Birol: Age of electricity is here, but dark geopolitical shadow looms over energy sector

IEA executive director reflects on the emergence of electricity as the world's 'dominant energy source', even as the consensus on climate action comes under fire

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 23 October 2025 • 4 min read