The Renewable Energy Revolution: A Technological Triumph
By Rebecca Solnit, The Guardian, July 30, 2025
An energy revolution is quietly transforming the world, driven by remarkable advances in renewable energy technology. Although this seismic shift often goes unnoticed by the public, it represents one of the most extraordinary achievements of our time. Renewable energy, once considered an impractical and costly alternative, has evolved into a viable and rapidly expanding solution to the global climate crisis.
From Early Doubts to Unstoppable Progress
At the dawn of the 21st century, solar panels and wind turbines were still rudimentary and expensive technologies. They were widely viewed as marginal solutions incapable of meeting the energy demands of modern society. Early climate activism focused largely on minimizing consumption, encouraged by the widely held belief that limited alternatives to fossil fuels forced an era of austerity and sacrifice.
This limitation inadvertently fueled the fossil fuel industry’s narrative, suggesting that individual consumption reduction was the primary climate solution and diverting attention from systemic change. Yet, while modest consumption is commendable, the essential task is to drastically reduce fossil fuel use by transitioning to renewable energy and electrification—a transition that must be collective, not merely personal.
Why the Transition to Renewables Matters
The burning of fossil fuels remains the principal driver of climate change. Efforts to combat climate impacts rightly include changing diets, reducing food waste, protecting natural carbon sinks, improving urban design and public transit, and curbing wasteful consumption like fast fashion and plastic use. However, these measures alone cannot halt climate change without addressing the dominance of fossil fuels.
Fortunately, the energy transition to renewables is already underway worldwide, though progress is uneven and frequently obstructed by political and economic interests, notably in administrations like that of former U.S. President Donald Trump and many fossil fuel corporations. Despite these challenges, the shift toward cleaner energy sources is arguably unstoppable due to their inherent advantages.
The Wastefulness of Fossil Fuels vs. the Efficiency of Renewables
Fossil fuels are both polluting and inefficient. Approximately 40% of global shipping is dedicated exclusively to transporting fossil fuels, which are inherently energy-inefficient given the logistics of extraction, refining, and distribution. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, only about 37% of the primary energy entering the global system actually delivers useful energy after losses in production and consumption.
In contrast, renewable energy derived from sun and wind is widely available, clean, and more efficient. This abundance lessens the geopolitical tensions caused by fossil fuel dependency and reduces the hazards associated with extraction and pollution. Although concerns remain about the materials needed for batteries and other renewable infrastructure, ongoing developments are focused on utilizing more abundant resources and improving recyclability.
Economic and Practical Breakthroughs
Over the last decade alone, clean technology costs have plummeted by up to 80%, investments in renewables have increased nearly tenfold, and solar power generation has grown twelvefold. Solar electricity, once prohibitively expensive, has become the cheapest source of power in much of the world. For example, new solar plants now produce electricity at nearly one-third the cost of new coal plants.
The inexhaustible nature of wind and solar energy means that once the infrastructure is in place, the energy itself is free. This shift offers the possibility of energy independence through local cooperatives and autonomous systems, undermining the control of predatory utilities and the fossil fuel industry.
A Vision for Energy Justice and Democracy
The renewable energy revolution carries the potential not only to mitigate climate change but also to promote energy justice and democracy. By decentralizing energy production, communities can gain control over their power sources, reducing inequities and fostering sustainable development.
This transformation is slow and highly technical, often escaping public attention, yet it stands as a powerful beacon of hope in our climate crisis. By making the renewable energy revolution more visible and widely understood, more people can embrace the extraordinary promise it holds for a sustainable and equitable future.
Rebecca Solnit is a columnist for The Guardian US and author of No Straight Road Takes You There and Orwell’s Roses.
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Energy | Renewable Energy | Solar Power | Wind Power | Fossil Fuels | Climate Crisis
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