Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that is collected from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, biomass, hydro-electrical and geothermal heat. Rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency (e.g. gains in battery efficiency; reduction in energy loss during transport) will result in significant energy security, climate change mitigation and economic benefits. In international public opinion there is strong support for promoting renewable sources, such as hydro-electrical, solar and wind power.

Some countries, such as Iceland and Norway, generate all their electricity using renewable energy already, and at least 30 nations around the world have renewable energy contributing more than 20 percent of their energy supply. National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the coming decades. Many other countries have set a goal to reach 100% renewable energy in the future, including emerging economies and developing countries, where energy is often seen as crucial in human development.

In addition, at the Paris climate conference in 2015, many countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal, governing greenhouse gases emissions measures from 2020, with the goal of reducing global warming. In this context, governments and companies will want to start generating power sustainably, using available renewable energy sources to their fullest extent.