Scaling Renewable Electricity (Rescale)
The speed at which we decarbonize and grow the electricity sector to satisfy increasing demand will critically influence our ability to reach net zero targets.
Renewable electricity is the main lever to decarbonize electricity consumption. Today, renewables are reliable and cost-competitive compared to conventional generation sources. Our work brings together leading companies representing the full renewable electricity value chain to accelerate the deployment of renewables and the transition to a low-carbon electricity system.
The
challenge
Although renewable electricity reached 32% of global electricity generation in 2024 (IEA, Renewables 2025), rising to an estimated 34% in the first half of 2025 – and overtaking coal for the first time in history – (Ember, Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025), we need to accelerate progress to meet the rising electricity demand caused by electrification of energy end-uses and increasing access to energy.
The main challenges today are supply chain constraints, regulatory barriers for infrastructure, and effectively integrating growing proportions of renewables into grids and electricity markets.
The
business case
The costs of renewable technologies have decreased to competitive levels, while technological and market advances are helping to overcome the challenges of variable generation patterns.
This makes renewables a profitable investment opportunity in many places. Building and operating renewable projects is increasingly a profitable and sustainable business model for investors, developers, utilities and consumers alike.
The
solution
Building on our previous work on renewable finance, market structures and low-carbon microgrids, REscale focused on:
1. Increasing understanding and use of corporate renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs).
2. Collaborating with global and national partners to scale up corporate renewable procurement in priority geographies: RE-Source Platform in Europe and RAiSE Initiave in South Africa.
