The aim of this paper is to review the current status and prospects of the renewable energy sources that are more suitable for the production of electricity, and to present the views of the EURE Group on the role electricity utilities could play in deploying generating plants based on these sources. In the first part of the paper, reference is made both to the renewable sources that have long been used for these purposes, such as hydro power, and to the "new" ones, particularly bioenergy, photovoltaics and wind power. Mention is also made of other technologies that have so far been less developed or can be applied only locally (e.g. geothermal energy). In the second part, the paper advises on the way utilities could contribute to renewable energy research and how they could help promoting these sources.