Coal's Decline: BRICS Nations Achieve Over 50% Renewable Energy Capacity with Global Support

BRICS Countries' Energy Transformation

The share of fossil fuel in BRICS countries' power capacity is set to drop below 50% for the first time this year as renewable energy rapidly expands and development of coal and oil declines. According to the Global Energy Monitor (GEM), this transition heralds a critical moment for the bloc, which still houses much of the world's coal power. The nine BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE—are expected to integrate 72 gigawatts (GW) of fossil fuel capacity this year while 190 GW of non-fossil capacity has been added across its members.

Investment Urgency in Energy Storage and Infrastructure

To support their growing share of renewable energy, experts emphasize the need for investments in energy storage and electricity grids. Although impressive strides have been made, challenges, such as low utilization rates of renewables, persist. James Norman, project manager at GEM, notes that optimizing these infrastructures will be essential to enhance the transition.

• China leads with a massive 70% of solar and 67% of wind power capacity developments within BRICS.
• Utilization rates are faltering, causing curtailment and potential losses in revenue for renewable producers.
• The urgency of addressing bottlenecks in land procurement and supply chain issues is critical.

Looking Ahead to 2030

BRICS countries are poised for an exponential increase in renewable energy projects, aiming to nearly triple their non-fossil capacity by 2030. Investment in infrastructure and technology will be paramount to maintaining progress in the clean energy transition.