Renewable energy marked 2025 with a record surge of 692 GW in new capacity, accounting for 85.6% of global electricity expansion and raising total installed power to 5149 GW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
IRENA Director Francesco La Camera emphasized: – The data confirms the strength of the economic case for the energy transition: the competitiveness and resilience of renewable energy have driven capacity to record levels almost every year since the beginning of the millennium. Still, much work remains to ensure a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.
IRENA noted that 2025 marked the largest annual growth of renewable energy to date, both in absolute numbers and percentages. However, significant acceleration is still needed to achieve the COP28 target: tripling capacity by 2030, reaching more than 11 TW of installed power.
Most of the growth once again came from Asia, which added more than 513 GW of new capacity and now holds 56.1% of the global share. China alone contributed over 440 GW, while India and South Korea also recorded significant progress.
Europe added 76.8 GW, while North America increased capacity by 42.1 GW, mainly thanks to installations in the United States. Africa achieved its largest growth so far (+11.3 GW), and the Middle East recorded a record growth rate of 28.9%, with Saudi Arabia as the main driver.
Solar and wind energy continued to dominate the expansion, together accounting for 96.8% of new capacity. Solar alone grew by 511 GW (+27.2%), while wind added 159 GW (+14%). Hydropower increased by 18.4 GW, bioenergy by 3.4 GW, and geothermal energy by 0.3 GW.
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