Top 10: Countries Using Renewable Energies
The global energy transition is motivating people, companies and governments to assess where their energy comes from and how they can ensure their actions are contributing to sustainable energy goals and, as a result, global environmental progress.
By the end of 2023, wind capacity reached 1,017GW, with China and the US leading this expansion. Bioenergy increased by 3%, with major increases in Japan, Brazil and neighbouring Uruguay.
The share of global electricity supply from renewable sources is forecasted to rise to 35% in 2025, with the amount of electricity generated by renewables expected to surpass that generated by coal for the first time.
Based on the latest report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), these are the 10 countries leading the charge when it comes to producing – and using — renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal or biomass.
10. Spain
Renewable power generation: 130TWh
In the last 15 years, Spain has become a major player in renewable energy as its wind generation capacity has doubled and solar increased eightfold since 2008. Now, a little more than half of the annual electricity production in Spain is sourced from renewable energies.
According to Enerdata, the leading green technologies in 2023 in Spain were wind at 24% and 14% produced by solar PV. Nuclear and combined-cycle gas generation also make up an important share of Spain’s power mix at 20.3% and 17.2% respectively. Enerdata’s research suggests that more than 70% of Spain’s power mix was CO₂-free in 2023. IRENA sata shows that Spain’s per capita electricity generation (kWh) is slowly rising, with CO₂ emission factor for electricity and heat generation generally falling.
Spain has made significant progress in renewable energy, particularly in wind and solar, thanks to government policies and public investment. It is focusing on increasing electrification and energy storage. One of the largest energy companies in the world and a leader in wind energy, Spain’s Iberdrola is a significant player in the country’s renewable sector and has been instrumental in expanding Spain’s renewable energy capacity.
9. Norway
Renewable power generation: 140 TWh
Thanks to the abundance of and ability to harness hydropower, Norway is a heavy producer of renewable energy. Norway has the highest share of electricity produced from renewable sources in Europe as well as the lowest emissions from the power sector. A medium-sized country with a small population, Norway harnesses its make-up to make it one of the world’s most significant players in renewable energy thanks to its access to abundant natural resources.
As well as this, the Scandinavian country is one of the biggest energy exporters in the world, Much of this is managed by Statkraft, Norway's largest power generator and Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says Norway, thanks to its many natural advantages, can achieve a successful energy and climate transition and is well-positioned to lead the world on new technologies for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like EV, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen. Its extensive hydropower resources cover 92% of electricity generation, supporting an almost completely renewables-based power sector.
8. Russia
Renewable power generation: 198TWh
Although fossil fuels represented 72% of Russia’s installed capacity in 2022, the country is also a powerhouse when it comes to renewable energy generation. Renewable energy represents shy of a fifth of Russia’s installed capacity, but that being said, the size of Russia and its generation capacity means that this fraction is still considerably large.
Ember data says that Russia generated over a third of its electricity from low-carbon sources in 2023, with 18% from nuclear and 17% from hydro. Most of Russia's renewable energy sources are fairly new and grown in recent years, however Russia has slipped down the list of renewable energy technologies development leaders outside of hydropower.
7. Japan
Renewable power generation: 239TWh
Renewables made up a little under a quarter of Japan’s share of power generation in 2022, a number that will only grow in the country. This is because of Japan’s pursuit of decreasing its CO₂ emissions and dependence on imported fossil fuels. Renewables are mainly used to generate electricity, though renewable technologies can also be used for heating in homes and buildings. Renewable biofuels are also an emerging technology solution to decarbonise parts of the transport sector. From this, it’s clear to see that Japan is gradually incorporating more renewables into the mix.
Mitsubishi Electric is a key player in promoting energy-efficient technologies like heat pumps and renewable energy integration and is heavily involved in developing and deploying advanced energy solutions, including renewable energy generation systems and smart energy management. These solutions support Japan’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency across various sectors.
6. Germany
Renewable power generation: 254 TWh
Germany’s renewable energy mix is mainly based on wind and biomass, with solar and hydro other key renewable elements. Until 2014, Germany had the world’s largest photovoltaic installed capacity and now boasts more than 82GW.
In 2023, Germany generated more than half of the electricity it used with renewable energy for the first time, according to the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and BDEW. Although this relates to consumption, this reflects Germany’s attitude to renewable energy and how the country is stepping up generation to meet demand. Germany’s amount of renewables produced in 2023, 254TWh, is around 7.2% more than in 2022.
Germany’s growing share of green energy is paramount in the EU’s pursuit of carbon neutrality by 2050. In line with this, the country’s renewable energy generation has significantly grown, with renewables accounting for 43% of electricity generation in 2022, a 594% increase since the millennium.
5. Canada
Renewable power generationL 388TWh
With two thirds of Canada’s total electricity generation coming from renewables, with hydropower the main source. Canada is the second largest producer of hydroelectricity worldwide and, as well as this, the country is expanding its wind and solar energy capacity to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. Brookfield Renewable Partners, one of the largest renewable energy platforms globally, manages a diversified portfolio across hydro, wind and solar assets, with its investments and operations in Canada helping to drive the country’s shift toward sustainable energy solutions.
As well as being a global hydro leader, hydro makes up 90% of Canada's non-combustible renewable electricity mix. The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) advocates on behalf of the wind energy, solar energy and energy storage industries to benefit Canada’s economy and energy future and to ensure renewables and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix.
4. India
Renewable energy generation: 405TWh
India is the world’s fourth largest consumer of electricity as well as its third largest renewable energy producer. The demand for electricity drives the need for a diverse and capable renewable energy generation system, with IRENA placing it as the fourth largest nation for renewable energy capacity.
The IEA says that renewable electricity is growing faster in India than any other major economy, with new capacity additions on track to double by 2026. The country has overachieved its Paris Agreement commitment by meeting 40% of its power capacity from non-fossil fuels almost nine years ahead of schedule.
As it continues to ramp up its renewable energy generation, India aims to produce five million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, supported by 125 GW of renewable energy capacity.
3. Brazil
Renewable energy generation: 940TWh
According to the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, more than 93% of Brazil’s power generation of 2023 came from renewable sources and mainly consisted of hydro, solar PV and wind power. Brazil also boasts one of the cleanest electricity mixes in the world, with large hydroelectric plants generating around 80% of domestic electricity.
The country’s renewable energy sector has expanded significantly thanks to private investment, with the country working to further develop sustainable solutions like green fuels, power storage, hydrogen and offshore wind projects. Brazilian company Raízen, the world’s largest sugar exporter and cellulosic ethanol producer, is leading the global biofuels revolution environmental stewardship at heart and underpins Brazil’s position as the world's biggest producer of biofuel derived from sugarcane.
Brazil’s abundant renewable resources and commitment to clean energy position it as an up-and-coming global sustainability powerhouse.
2. USA
Renewable energy generation: 1,493TWh
Renewable energy generates more than 20% of all the US’ electricity, a figure that continues to rise. Although by no means the biggest percentage seen on this Top 10 list, when taking into account the sheer size of the US and the energy demand it creates, this amounts to a huge number. The EIA highlights how renewable energy generation in the US has grown significantly in recent years, with renewables accounting for 21.4% of total utility-scale electricity generation in 2023 and non-hydroelectric renewables contributing 15.6% and hydroelectric 5.7%.
Wind is a growing energy generation source Stateside, making up 10% of total utility-scale electricity generation last year, up from less than 1% in 1990.
What’s causing this sheer amount of growth? Decreasing costs, state mandates, financial incentives and environmental regulations are all significant contributors, with the country aiming to further increase its renewable energy capacity to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions. Southern Company is one of the US’ leading renewable energy companies and was founded a century ago, with its establishment inspired by the hydro potential of Alabama’s rivers.
1. China
Renewable energy generation: 3,749TWh
The largest generator of renewable energy by a country mile is China. In 2023, clean power made up 35% of China’s electricity mix, with hydro the largest single source of clean power at 13%. The growth of renewable power generation in China has been colossal since 2000, far outpacing other countries worldwide. For example, China installed roughly as much solar capacity as the rest of the world combined in 2022, then doubled additional solar the following year. However, China’s position as a country heavily dependent on fossil fuels cannot be overlooked.
Coal still dominates China’ energy mix, with the country continuing to build new coal-fired power plants and 106GW of coal power capacity under construction as of 2023. China’s dual approach of expanding both renewables and fossil fuels reflects its complex energy landscape, balancing rapid economic growth with environmental concerns and energy security.
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