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With 585 GW of capacity additions, renewables accounted for over 90% of total power expansion globally in 2024.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26 March 2025 – Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025 published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today reveals a significant surge in renewable energy capacity during 2024, reaching a total of 4,448 gigawatts (GW). The addition of 585 GW represents an impressive 92.5% of the total power capacity expansion worldwide, reflecting a record annual growth rate of 15.1%.
Despite this notable achievement in 2024, the progress still lags behind the global target of tripling installed renewable energy capacity to 11.2 terawatts by 2030. To meet this ambitious goal, an annual expansion of 16.6% in renewable capacity is essential through the end of the decade.
Geographic differences in the adoption of renewable energy sources remain significant. As observed in previous years, Asia led the way, with China contributing a staggering 64% of the new global capacity. In contrast, Central America and the Caribbean contributed only 3.2%. The G7 and G20 nations were responsible for 14.3% and 90.3% of the 2024 capacity additions, respectively.
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera stated, “The ongoing growth of renewables each year underscores their economic feasibility and speedy deployability. While we continue to set new expansion records, we are confronted with persistent regional disparities and the pressing timeline as the 2030 target approaches.”
La Camera emphasized the importance of addressing economic competitiveness and energy security, suggesting that rapidly expanding renewable power capacity presents opportunities for businesses and a means to enhance energy security sustainably. He called on governments to use the upcoming round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) to articulate their renewable energy visions and urged the international community to foster collaboration in support of the Global South’s ambitions.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, praised the remarkable advancement in renewable energy, stating, “Renewable energy is ushering in the end of the fossil fuel era. The unprecedented growth is generating jobs, reducing energy costs, and improving air quality. Renewables are revitalizing economies. However, the transition to clean energy must accelerate and be equitable, ensuring that all nations can fully harness the benefits of affordable and clean renewable power.”
In 2024, the most notable expansions occurred in solar and wind energy, which together comprised 96.6% of all net renewable additions. Solar energy dominated the growth with an increase of 32.2%, culminating in a total capacity of 1,865 GW, followed by wind energy, which expanded by 11.1%.
Additionally, a significant decrease in non-renewable power in certain areas has bolstered the upward trend in renewable capacity. However, to meet the ambitious target of tripling renewable capacity by 2030 and adhere to the Paris Agreement commitments, more robust actions are needed. IRENA has been advocating for specific and measurable renewable capacity objectives as part of NDCs 3.0 and has been actively assisting its members in the enhancement and implementation of their NDCs focused on the energy sector through country engagements.
Technology highlights:
- Solar: Solar photovoltaics surged by 451.9 GW last year, with China alone contributing 278 GW, followed by India with 24.5 GW.
- Hydropower: Excluding pumped storage, hydropower capacity reached 1,283 GW, rebounding significantly, largely driven by growth in China. Several countries, including Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Vietnam, also added over 0.5 GW each.
- Wind: Wind energy capacity slightly declined, totaling 1,133 GW at the end of 2024. The expansion continued to be primarily led by China and the United States.
- Bioenergy: The expansion of bioenergy capacity increased by 4.6 GW in 2024, a rise from 3.0 GW in 2023. This growth was led by China and France, each adding 1.3 GW.
- Geothermal: Geothermal energy experienced a modest rise of 0.4 GW, with New Zealand showing the most growth, followed by Indonesia, Türkiye, and the US.
- Off-grid electricity: Capacity growth in off-grid electricity (excluding Eurasia, Europe, and North America) nearly tripled, growing by 1.7 GW to reach 14.3 GW, with off-grid solar energy representing the majority at 6.3 GW.
For an in-depth look at the full Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025, including all the highlights, click here.
Source
www.irena.org