Clean Energy Transition
Accelerating a clean, green and equitable energy future.
A future powered by clean, renewable energy is within reach.
To meet our global target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, we need to move fast and ensure the expansion of renewable energy benefits both people and nature. Leveraging science, policy and strategic collaborations with communities, governments and other partners, TNC is advancing energy solutions that reduce carbon emissions, protect natural lands and support livelihoods worldwide.
2024 Annual Report
Our Renewable Energy Transition Annual Report highlights the progress TNC made in 2024 around the world towards our goals.
3Cs Solutions
Our 3Cs approach—focusing on Climate, Conservation and Communities—ensures that the renewable energy buildout not only addresses climate change but also protects nature and benefits people. By integrating the 3Cs into our planning, siting and policy work, we are making it faster, easier and more cost-effective to deploy renewable energy at the scale needed to meet our climate goals.
Conservation
At the speed and scale needed to meet our climate goals, the renewable energy buildout may have impacts on current land uses on the ground and in oceans—especially with large-scale wind and solar installations. With careful planning, renewable energy projects can avoid impacts to wildlife and habitat and even restore and enhance nature.
Climate
More than two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions come from energy use. To meet our Paris Agreement climate goals and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the world must triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. Renewable energy solutions should maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Communities
Public concerns about the clean energy transition include environmental impacts, effects on land and property values, and ensuring a fair transition to clean energy given historical inequities. Bringing communities into decision-making early can reduce opposition and accelerate the renewable energy transition.
RETURN
How is TNC working to accelerate the clean energy transition?
Learn more about each of our initiatives here.
Smart Siting
Using environmental and community information, we work with governments and partners to support the siting of responsible renewable energy. Science-based mapping and planning tools identify areas with lower risk and higher benefit for nature and communities and can help reduce land-use conflicts, speed up deployment and preserve natural areas.
Mining the Sun
We support the growth of clean energy development on former mine lands and brownfields by identifying opportunity sites, supporting policies and incentives, and engaging host communities. These sites offer existing infrastructure, faster permitting and new economic opportunities for local communities that are often in transition from fossil-fuel-dependent economies.
Renewables for Good
A successful clean energy transition hinges on strengthening the social license for renewable energy projects—the acceptance and approval of projects by stakeholders and the general public. TNC and partners are developing best practices and standards for responsible renewable energy by integrating climate, conservation and community values into projects, procurement and markets.
Powering with Policy
To achieve our global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 and ensuring a liveable climate for all, ambitious commitments must be coupled with supportive policies that drive rapid and equitable change. TNC is building diverse coalitions to create, implement and defend policies that accelerate adoption of clean energy technologies and reduce emissions across the economy.
Support Our Work
The power to protect and restore nature—now and for the next generation—is in your hands. Do your part to create a more sustainable future for our planet.
Advancing Clean Energy Around the World
Explore select examples of TNC's clean energy work on the ground and in the water with this interactive map.
Project Examples
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- Using AI to improve siting decisions in India
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Using AI to improve siting decisions in India
As part of the India siting efforts, the team published an AI-based study highlighting the risks of poorly planned solar and wind projects to agriculture, food security and natural areas, as well as a policy paper.
- Protecting rare native tallgrass in Texas
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Protecting rare native tallgrass in Texas
Mockingbird Solar Center is energy company Ørsted's largest global solar project. The site will generate enough clean energy to power 80,000 homes, while preserving nearly 1,000 acres of rare tallgrass prairie habitat now under protection by TNC Texas in the Smiley Meadow Preserve. A win for people, climate and nature—the property supports hundreds of animal species.
- Low-conflict renewables potential in Montenegro
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Low-conflict renewables potential in Montenegro
Our pilot study in Nikšić, Montenegro demonstrated that the county's low-conflict solar and wind potential could easily replace the country's biggest coal plant.
- Reef habitat restoration in the North Sea, Europe
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Reef habitat restoration in the North Sea, Europe
In the North Sea, TNC is working with partners to advance science through innovative demonstration projects that integrate reef restoration into offshore wind project designs to create marine habitat out of offshore wind infrastructure.
- Mapping Serbia's Solar Potential
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Mapping Serbia's Solar Potential
Consulting with renewable experts from municipal departments, agencies, and NGOs across Serbia, TNC developed a map that identifies the 100 best locations for solar energy development with high energy potential and low environmental and social impact.
- Transforming a former coal mine in Kentucky
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Transforming a former coal mine in Kentucky
An innovative, nature-friendly renewable energy project is underway on the Starfire Mine, formerly one of the largest coal mines in the United States. The first 210 MW of the total 800 MW Starfire Solar Phase I project is on track to be completed by 2027. Once complete, the center will produce enough electricity to power over 500,000 households per year.
- Smart solar siting on a former coal mine in India
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Smart solar siting on a former coal mine in India
The construction of the first solar project on a former coal mine in India is scheduled for 2025. TNC signed an MOU with the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited to spearhead the repurposing of closed mines for renewable energy. This project will demonstrate the benefits of projects on degraded lands and offer economic and community co-benefits via work opportunities for former coal mine workers.
- Supporting land and energy planning in Peru
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Supporting land and energy planning in Peru
TNC and Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines partnered on the Siting Renewables Right methodology factsheet on the Ministry’s website. A Web-GIS tool for wind and solar siting at a national scale will serve as an early screening tool for land and energy planning.
- Biodiversity monitoring at a wind farm in Kenya
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Biodiversity monitoring at a wind farm in Kenya
The Kipeto Wind Farm project in Kenya is transforming the way renewable energy, communities and wildlife coexist. Kenya's second-largest wind power plant has launched a successful Biodiversity Monitoring Program that relies on skilled biodiversity watchers to prevent soaring bird collisions with wind turbines.
- A strategic collaboration in Portugal
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A strategic collaboration in Portugal
TNC and partners, including Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG), The Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN), and other Portuguese environmental NGOs, are working together to identify optimal areas for solar and wind energy projects while respecting ecological and cultural values.
- Assessing impacts to biodiversity in Croatia
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Assessing impacts to biodiversity in Croatia
In collaboration with Croatia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and the Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute, TNC helped develop the region’s most comprehensive national biodiversity conflict maps for renewable energy siting.
- Mining the Sun in the Central Appalachians
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Mining the Sun in the Central Appalachians
TNC’s Cumberland Forest Project and partners are developing 17 solar and storage projects on 360 acres of former coal mines in the Appalachians. The new projects are expected to generate approximately 49 megawatts (MW) of solar energy and 320 MW of battery storage, the equivalent of powering 6,638 Appalachian homes annually.
- Low-impact solar siting in Georgia, United States
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Watch Video
Low-impact solar siting in Georgia, United States
TNC partnered on the development of the Georgia Low Impact Solar Siting Tool. The statewide Georgia Utility Scale Solar Siting Initiative partnership was recognized as one of the 2023 “Clean 13” efforts by the Georgia Water Coalition and the expansion of Georgia’s solar industry is providing an important source of clean energy and jobs for the state.
- Securing a clean energy future for California
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Securing a clean energy future for California
TNC’s first Power of Place study focused on California and lays out pathways for protecting important natural and agricultural lands while creating a 100% clean energy future for the state.
- Blueprint for Renewable Energy in North Macedonia
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Blueprint for Renewable Energy in North Macedonia
TNC partnered with the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and NGO Ekosvest to lay the groundwork for smart siting in North Macedonia. The resulting blueprint enables the country to build on its leadership in the renewable energy space – and identifies double the amount of suitable land needed for renewables to meet current electricity demand without unduly impacting nature and communities.
- Offshore Wind Opportunities
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Offshore Wind Opportunities
TNC uses the best available science to advance offshore wind in a way that maximizes benefits and minimizes harm to nature and people.
Europe, U.S. & India Work
Building a Renewable Energy Future in Europe
By planning clean energy smartly, Europe can become the world's first climate-neutral continent—ensuring that both people and nature thrive.
A Clean Energy Future for the United States
Learn how TNC creates, implements and defends smart climate policies and is helping accelerate the renewable energy buildout in North America.
Supporting the Renewable Energy Rollout in India
TNC India works in support of a rollout of renewable energy projects across India that protect areas of high conservation value.
Watch: Clean Energy in Practice
How India is Leading the Way in Renewable Energy TNC India and partners are demonstrating how to build out solar power on former mining sites, revitalizing the lands and creating new green jobs for former miners in the process.
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Resources
Visit our new resources page for tools, reports, policy guidance, peer-reviewed science and other materials to support the clean energy transition.
Recent News
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Mockingbird Solar Center Named “Solar Ecosystem of the Year”
The Mockingbird Solar Project that preserves nearly 1,000 acres of rare tallgrass prairie in Texas was named “Solar Ecosystem of the Year” at the 2025 North American Agrivoltaics Awards in August at the Solar Farm Summit in Chicago. Learn more
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17 New Solar Projects in the Appalachians, U.S.
The Nature Conservancy and the Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership announced new agreements with Sun Tribe Development and ENGIE to develop 14 solar energy and three battery storage projects on 360 acres of former coal mines in the Appalachians. Read more
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A New Blueprint for Renewable Energy Acceleration in Europe
New toolkit by TNC and the Energy Community aims to streamline deployment through better coordination, data management and conflict-sensitive planning. Read more
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Cutting-Edge Biodiversity Conflict Maps to Accelerate Action in Croatia
Developed with support from The Nature Conservancy and Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute, the maps can integrate priorities for people and planet. Read more
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Identifying low-conflict areas for wind and solar development in Europe
A new research paper presents scenarios in line with REPowerEU package to identify Renewables Acceleration Areas that support rapid renewable expansion while ensuring minimal harm to biodiversity and rural communities. Read the paper