Renewables rising, Part 1: How four countries are reshaping energy security

This article is published in association with United Nations.

The ongoing insecurity in the Middle East, where a large proportion of the world’s oil and gas is extracted, is forcing many countries to focus on how they can ensure access to cheap and reliable energy supplies primarily through the use of renewable power sources.

Why it matters: Some 20 per cent of the world’s 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.

The disruption of those supplies has exposed countries to volatile prices, geopolitical shocks and supply disruptions.

“The turmoil we are witnessing in the Middle East makes it evident that we are facing a global energy system largely tied to fossil fuels,” said  UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “where supply is concentrated in a few regions and every conflict risks sending shockwaves through the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people.”

Renewables, like solar, wind and hydropower offer stable, domestic and increasingly cheaper power.

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.

The renewables pitch

“Renewables already nearly match fossil fuels in global installed power capacity,” said Mr. Guterres in July last year adding that “there are no price spikes for sunlight… no embargoes on wind.”

Renewables are now “the foundation of energy security and sovereignty,” he said.

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.

Norway: Hydropower backbone, oil dependence fading

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.

Energy mix:

• Hydropower dominates (around 90–95 per cent of electricity generation)
• Growing wind power sector
• Minimal fossil fuel use in power generation

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.

Read more here about which countries are powering towards renewables: UN Energy Statistics Pocketbook 2026

Paraguay: Renewable electricity powerhouse

The big picture: Paraguay is one of the world’s clean energy leaders, generating all its grid electricity from renewables, particularly hydropower.

Energy mix:

• Nearly 100 per cent hydropower (shared binational dams like Itaipú)
• Negligible fossil fuel use in electricity, although the transport sector still relies on fossil fuels

With abundant hydropower, Paraguay enjoys extremely low-cost electricity, energy independence as well as export revenues from surplus power.

Nepal: Hydropower transforming lives

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.

Energy mix:

• Dominated by hydropower
• Small but growing solar and micro-hydro systems
• Declining reliance on imported fossil fuels for electricity

UN data indicates around 98 per cent of Nepal’s overall power capacity is renewable.

Hydropower is reducing Nepal’s dependence on imported fuels and is helping to stabilise energy supply in a mountainous, infrastructure-challenged country.

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.

Ethiopia: Renewables expanding access and opportunity

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

Energy mix:

• Large-scale hydropower from major dams
• Growing solar and wind capacity
• Minimal fossil fuel generation in electricity

UN data shows over 98 per cent of Ethiopia’s power capacity is renewable.

Renewables are central to Ethiopia’s strategy to achieve universal electricity access, especially to communities far from the national grid, to reduce reliance on imported fuels and support economic development.

The bottom line

Across very different geographies from hydropower-rich Norway and Paraguay to developing economies like Nepal and Ethiopia a common pattern is emerging:

• Renewables enhance energy independence
• They stabilize costs and reduce exposure to global crises
• They deliver tangible benefits to people, from jobs to health to opportunity

The transition is not uniform, and challenges remain, especially in financing and infrastructure.

But as the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the “energy transition is unstoppable…renewables can put power, literally and figuratively, in the hands of people and governments.” 

Powering other countries

Of course, not all countries benefit from reliable sources of hydropower and solar, nor the funds to exploit these renewable options.

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.