{"id":398865,"date":"2026-04-26T19:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/398865\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T19:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:40:09","slug":"renewables-rising-part-1-how-four-countries-are-reshaping-energy-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/398865\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewables rising, Part 1: How four countries are reshaping energy security"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why it matters: Some 20 per cent of the world\u2019s gas and oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway which runs between Iran and Oman, and which has been largely closed to marine traffic since the outbreak of the conflict between Iran and the United States.<\/p>\n

The disruption of those supplies has exposed countries to volatile prices, geopolitical shocks and supply disruptions.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\u201cThe turmoil we are witnessing in the Middle East makes it evident that we are facing a global energy system largely tied to fossil fuels,\u201d said\u00a0<\/a> UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/a>, \u201cwhere supply is concentrated in a few regions and every conflict risks sending shockwaves through the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renewables, like solar, wind and hydropower offer stable, domestic and increasingly cheaper power.<\/p>\n

They are also rapidly overtaking fossil fuels as the backbone of modern energy systems, not just for climate reasons, but also for security and economic resilience.<\/p>\n

The renewables pitch<\/p>\n

\u201cRenewables already nearly match fossil fuels in global installed power capacity,\u201d said<\/a> Mr. Guterres in July last year adding that \u201cthere are no price spikes for sunlight\u2026 no embargoes on wind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renewables are now \u201cthe foundation of energy security and sovereignty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

They also cut emissions, reduce pollution, create jobs and lower long-term costs, a combination that is driving a global shift already visible in a handful of frontrunner countries.<\/p>\n

Norway: Hydropower backbone, oil dependence fading<\/p>\n

The big picture: Norway remains a major oil and gas exporter, however domestically, its electricity system is already overwhelmingly renewable, ensuring a stable, domestically controlled energy supply.<\/p>\n

\"Oslo,<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Unsplash\/Oscar Daniel Rangel<\/p>\n

Cities in Norway, like the capital Oslo are largely power by renewable energy.<\/p>\n

Energy mix:Hydropower dominates (around 90\u201395 per cent of electricity generation)Growing wind power sectorMinimal fossil fuel use in power generation<\/p>\n

It is also progressing toward full transition including the electrification of transport, the expansion of offshore wind farms and the gradual shift away from fossil fuel use in domestic sectors.<\/p>\n

Read more here about which countries are powering towards renewables: UN Energy Statistics Pocketbook 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Paraguay: Renewable electricity powerhouse<\/p>\n

The big picture: Paraguay is one of the world\u2019s clean energy leaders, generating all its grid electricity from renewables, particularly hydropower.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The hydroelectric Itaipu dam on the Paran\u00e1 River is jointly operated by Brazil and Paraguay.<\/p>\n

Energy mix:Nearly 100 per cent hydropower (shared binational dams like Itaip\u00fa)Negligible fossil fuel use in electricity, although the transport sector still relies on fossil fuels<\/p>\n

With abundant hydropower, Paraguay enjoys extremely low-cost electricity, energy independence as well as export revenues from surplus power.<\/p>\n

Nepal: Hydropower transforming lives<\/p>\n

The big picture: Nepal has rapidly expanded hydropower and is now almost entirely renewable in electricity generation for its grid, although the transport sector still relies on fossil fuels.<\/p>\n

\"Solar-powered<\/p>\n

Solar-powered lights line a busy street in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.<\/p>\n

Energy mix:Dominated by hydropowerSmall but growing solar and micro-hydro systemsDeclining reliance on imported fossil fuels for electricity<\/p>\n

UN data indicates around 98 per cent of Nepal\u2019s overall power capacity is renewable.<\/p>\n

Hydropower is reducing Nepal\u2019s dependence on imported fuels and is helping to stabilise energy supply in a mountainous, infrastructure-challenged country.<\/p>\n

The land-locked country is now working towards the expansion of rural electrification, the development of decentralized renewable systems and is shifting from traditional wood cooking to cleaner energy, reducing household pollution which especially affects women and children.<\/p>\n

Ethiopia: Renewables expanding access and opportunity<\/p>\n

The big picture: Ethiopia is emerging as a renewable energy leader in Africa, with a system dominated by hydropower and expanding solar.<\/p>\n

\"Solar<\/p>\n

Solar power is helping farmers in Ethiopia to irrigate their crops more efficiently.<\/p>\n

Energy mix:Large-scale hydropower from major damsGrowing solar and wind capacityMinimal fossil fuel generation in electricity<\/p>\n

UN data shows over 98 per cent of Ethiopia\u2019s power capacity is renewable.<\/p>\n

Renewables are central to Ethiopia\u2019s strategy to achieve universal electricity access, especially to communities far from the national grid, to reduce reliance on imported fuels and support economic development.<\/p>\n

The bottom line<\/p>\n

Across very different geographies from hydropower-rich Norway and Paraguay to developing economies like Nepal and Ethiopia a common pattern is emerging:<\/p>\n

Renewables enhance energy independenceThey stabilize costs and reduce exposure to global crisesThey deliver tangible benefits to people, from jobs to health to opportunity<\/p>\n

The transition is not uniform, and challenges remain, especially in financing and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

But as the UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said the \u201cenergy transition is unstoppable…renewables can put power, literally and figuratively, in the hands of people and governments.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Powering other countries<\/p>\n

Of course, not all countries benefit from reliable sources of hydropower and solar, nor the funds to exploit these renewable options.<\/p>\n

Find out more about how other countries with fewer natural resources and larger populations are moving towards energy security in the second part of this UN News series on renewable energy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Why it matters: Some 20 per cent of the world\u2019s gas and oil supplies pass through the Strait…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":398866,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[273,111,139,69,147],"class_list":["post-398865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-environment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=398865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398865\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/398866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=398865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=398865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=398865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}