The Global Renewables Alliance (GRA)launched a five-point Renewables Action Plan, urging governments worldwide to accelerate renewable energy deployment in response to renewed global energy price shocks.

The plan, endorsed by GRA’s six member associations—including the Global Wind Energy Council, Global Solar Council, Green Hydrogen Organisation, Long Duration Energy Storage Council, International Hydropower Association, and International Geothermal Association—aims to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen energy security.

Ben Backwell, CEO, Global Wind Energy Council and Chair of GRA said: “Once again, the vulnerability of regions such as Europe and Asia to volatile fossil fuel imports is being exposed. The implications are clear: policy makers need to move faster to reduce reliance on fossil fuels that can be interrupted or weaponised by other countries, and move to energy systems powered by clean, efficient, homegrown renewable energy like wind power.“ 

Renewable energy, the alliance emphasized, is the fastest and most cost-competitive solution to long-term energy security, resilience, and prosperity. Deploying wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and energy storage projects quickly will protect countries from price volatility and energy market failure.

“Energy crises keep recurring because the global energy system remains stuck in the past,” said Bruce Douglas, CEO of GRA. “The fastest and cheapest way to protect economies and households from price shocks is to accelerate the deployment of renewables, energy efficiency, and storage, strengthen grids, and electrify end-use sectors.”

The Renewables Action Plan outlines five priority actionsfor governments:

1. Fast-track emergency permitting:Streamline regulatory approvals for renewable and energy storage projects to enable significant capacity expansion within 36 months.

2. Address grid and storage bottlenecks:Modernize electricity grids and storage systems to integrate new renewable capacity, improve reliability, and guarantee priority dispatch for renewables.

3. Mobilize financing:Unlock public and private investment through preferential interest rates, dedicated lending windows, and redirecting capital away from carbon-intensive industries.

4. Accelerate electrification:Implement strategies to electrify transport, heating, and industry, supported by flexibility markets, demand response, and energy storage. For sectors that cannot be electrified directly, green hydrogen is proposed.

5. Scale up supply chains:Develop industrial strategies and clear milestones for renewable manufacturing, grid and storage deployment, and workforce capacity, providing long-term revenue certainty and investment incentives.

GRA highlighted that energy crises—from the oil shocks of the 1970s to the post-Ukraine invasion gas crisis and current Middle East tensions—have repeatedly exposed the vulnerability of fossil fuel-dependent systems. Fast-tracking domestic renewable energy, alongside grids and storage, can reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets while strengthening economic resilience and energy security.