Renewables Rise, Storage Booms & Record Solar Growth

This week’s energy stories cover key trends shaping the global energy landscape—from the rapid rise of renewables and battery storage to record-breaking construction projects and a glimpse at oil extraction processes.

🌍 Renewables Rise, Nuclear Declines in Global Power Mix

The global electricity mix is shifting, with renewables like solar, wind, and hydropower gaining share, while nuclear power is playing a shrinking role. Since 2000, renewables have grown rapidly, but nuclear energy's contribution has declined, limiting overall progress toward low-carbon electricity.

The world is getting more of its electricity from renewables but less from nuclear power—

The world needs to move away from fossil fuels to low-carbon power if we’re to reduce our carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

There are two key sources of low-carbon power:… pic.twitter.com/MbjFUX1RRR

— Our World in Data (@OurWorldInData) March 28, 2025

🔋 Battery Energy Storage Market Booming

Battery energy storage is the fastest-growing segment of global battery demand, expanding rapidly over the past three years. China leads the market, accounting for about two-thirds of global battery energy storage capacity.

Battery energy storage is booming: Over the past three years, the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) market has been the fastest-growing segment of global battery demand.

As with EV market, China dominates global BESS deployments accounting for approximately 2/3 of capacity. pic.twitter.com/8dbdQh7xUx

— Jan Rosenow (@janrosenow) March 28, 2025

☀️ Solar Installations Now Dwarf Coal's Peak

In 2015, global coal power construction peaked at 102 GW. By contrast, in 2023, the world installed an astonishing 599 GW of solar capacity—six times more than coal's peak. The scale of solar growth marks a turning point in global energy trends.

Coal power plant building peaked in 2015 when 102GW was built globally.

Last year, 599GW of solar was installed - six times coal's heyday.

Solar is not new.

But the scale it's being installed is new. pic.twitter.com/RavXJ24FWa

— Dave Jones (@CleanPowerDave) March 27, 2025

🏗️ World’s Largest Cooling Tower Under Construction in China

Construction is underway on the world’s largest cooling tower at SPIC’s Lianjiang nuclear power plant in China. The tower will reach 218.7 meters in height, with a base diameter of 174.5 meters. The plant will host six reactors across two phases.

Construction of the worlds largest cooling tower is progressing in #China at #SPIC #Lianjiang #NPP. The plant will host two #CAP1000 in the first phase and four #CAP1400 in later stages. Final height will be 218.7 m. Base diameter is 174.5 m. pic.twitter.com/e14hti5BPb

— TZV (@realTZV) March 26, 2025

🤖 How Onshore Oil Extraction Works

A visual model breaks down the process of extracting oil from onshore fields, showing key steps in how crude oil is brought to the surface.

The process of oil extraction from onshore fields

pic.twitter.com/XOc8jwfA0J

— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) March 28, 2025