Solar, AI, and Storage Drive Renewable Growth, Says RatedPower Report

RatedPower, a part of Enverus, has released its fifth 'Global Renewable Trends Report', providing a comprehensive analysis of the renewable energy landscape.

Drawing insights from more than 140 renewable energy professionals and data from over 45,000 solar design projects, the report sheds light on emerging trends, growth areas, and industry challenges. It identifies storage technology, solar energy, and green hydrogen as the most promising sectors for expansion over the next five years. The report also highlights critical hurdles such as grid saturation, permitting complexities, and regulatory issues, which continue to impede rapid growth.

According to the report, the US, China, Australia, Brazil, and India are the top five countries with the greatest potential for renewable energy expansion. This growth is largely driven by a combination of governmental support, strong economic incentives, and favourable geographic conditions. Despite ongoing concerns, the survey shows a slight improvement in grid-related challenges. 60.1 percent of respondents cited grid saturation and instability as the most pressing issue, down from 66.7 percent in 2024. Similarly, 49.7 percent identified permitting and regulatory barriers as major obstacles to advancing renewable energy projects, underscoring the need for streamlined processes and clearer guidelines.

The report also emphasises the transformative role of AI, machine learning, and digitalisation in accelerating renewable energy development. Diego Lobo-Guerrero Rodriguez from SENS – Iqony Sustainable Energy Solutions highlighted the critical balance between advancing technology and maintaining safety standards. He noted that the rising energy demands from new data centers will further push the industry toward innovation. Respondents echoed these sentiments, emphasising the need for supportive policies and simplified regulatory frameworks to unlock the full potential of advanced renewable solutions such as battery energy storage systems (BESS), agri-PV, floating solar, and offshore wind.

In addition to qualitative insights, the report provides detailed data on evolving design trends. It reveals that 93.7 percent of respondents expressed high confidence in the future of the renewable energy sector, rating their optimism as 4 or 5 out of 5. 48.3 percent of participants identified storage as the most significant growth area, with solar energy following at 30.8 percent. The use of bifacial solar modules has reached a record high, accounting for 94.46 percent of all simulations in the fourth quarter of 2024. Hybrid power plants, which combine multiple renewable sources, accounted for 11 percent to 28 percent of simulations throughout the year. Additionally, string inverters continued to gain popularity, being used in over 60 percent of simulations in 2024, while central inverters remained the preferred choice for projects with a peak capacity exceeding 100 MW.

Andrea Barber, VP of Power & Renewables at Enverus and co-founder of RatedPower, expressed optimism about the industry's trajectory. Reflecting on the report’s findings, she highlighted the substantial technological advancements and the evolving solar design processes observed over the past five years. “Despite ongoing challenges, we remain excited about the possibilities ahead and are proud to be part of the transformative journey toward a greener future,” she said.

The 2025 Global Renewable Trends Report provides critical insights for industry leaders, policymakers, and investors navigating the rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape.