With 585 GW of new capacity, renewable energy sources accounted for more than 90% of the total global electricity expansion in 2024, reaching a total of 4,448 GW of installed capacity, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said.
In its 2025 renewable energy capacity report, IRENA said that the previous year was a record year for the deployment of these sources, but that acceleration is needed to achieve the planned target and maintain the stability of the energy sector in order to achieve climate goals. The uneven development of renewable energy deviates from the goal of tripling the global share of RES by 2030, and that capacity needs to be increased by 16.6% per year in the coming period, the statement noted.
They say the progress again reflects significant geographical differences. As in previous years, the largest share of the increase occurred in Asia, with China contributing the most – almost 64% of global additional capacity, while Central America and the Caribbean contributed the least at just 3.2%. The G7 and G20 countries accounted for 14.3% and 90.3% of new capacity in 2024, respectively.
Solar and wind continued to dominate the expansion, together accounting for an impressive 96.6% of renewable energy capacity additions in 2024. More than three-quarters of this growth was attributed to solar, which grew by 32.2% to 1,865 GW. Wind also made significant progress, growing by 11.1%, confirming its key role in the global energy transition.
IRENA therefore stresses that further development of innovative technologies, increased financial support, and enhanced cooperation among countries are essential to ensure a faster and more efficient transition to sustainable energy sources globally.