Global renewables surge to record 4,448 GW

However, progress remains short of the 2030 tripling goal.

The global renewable power capacity recorded a massive increase in 2024, reaching 4,448 gigawatts (GW), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

In its Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025 report, IRENA said renewables grew 15.1% in 2024, adding 585 GW and representing 92.5% of new capacity.

Solar and wind energy continued to lead the expansion, both accounting for 96.6% of all net renewable additions in 2024. Over three-quarters of the capacity additions were in solar energy which increased by 32.2%, reaching 1,865 GW, followed by wind energy which grew by 11.1%.

The large net decommissioning of non-renewable power in some regions also fueled the increase in renewables capacity.

Despite this growth, progress is still behind the 11.2 terawatts needed to reach the global goal to triple installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. To reach this goal, renewable capacity must now expand by 16.6 % annually until 2030

Latest progress also continues to reflect geographic disparities.

IRENA said most of the increase occurred in Asia, thanks to China contributing almost 64% of the global added capacity, whilst Central America and the Caribbean contributed the least at only 3.2%. The G7 and G20 countries respectively accounted for 14.3% and 90.3% of new capacity last year.

“With economic competitiveness and energy security being increasingly a major global concern today, expanding renewable power capacity at speed equals tapping into business opportunities and addressing energy security quickly and sustainably,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera.