Global renewable electricity generation reached a record 31.7% of total power output in 2024, while renewable capacity expanded to more than 5.1 TW in 2025, according to the latest IRENA statistics.
Renewable electricity generation continues to accelerate worldwide
Renewable electricity generation reached its fastest annual growth on record in 2024, according to the latest Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable sources accounted for 31.7% of global electricity generation last year, producing a total of 9,836 terawatt-hours (TWh).
The report compiles renewable energy statistics covering the past decade, from 2016 to 2025, highlighting the accelerating role of clean energy in the global power sector.
Renewable electricity generation: 2024 versus 2023
IRENA’s latest data show that renewable electricity generation increased by 9.8% in 2024, significantly outperforming the previous year’s growth rate. Overall, renewable sources generated 31.7% of global electricity production, reaching 9,836 TWh.
In 2023, global renewable electricity generation had risen by 8.4% compared with 2022, increasing from 8,440 TWh to 9,152 TWh. Renewables’ share of worldwide electricity generation also climbed from 29.1% in 2022 to 30.3% in 2023.
By contrast, electricity generation from non-renewable sources continued to slow in 2024, expanding by just 1.4% over the same period.
Renewable generation capacity reached a record level in 2025
According to the latest IRENA report, annual renewable capacity additions have increased dramatically over the past 25 years, reaching a record 693 GW in 2025.
By the end of 2025, global renewable power capacity had climbed to a record 5,155 GW, or approximately 5.2 TW. This represented 49.5% of total installed global electricity capacity, including both renewable and non-renewable technologies, which together amounted to around 10.4 TW.
Renewable capacity expanded by 15.1% in 2025 compared with 2024, well above the average annual growth rate of 11.9% recorded over the previous five years between 2019 and 2024.
Renewables accounted for 85.7% of all new power capacity added globally in 2025, down slightly from 92.7% in 2024. Despite this modest decline in market share, the continued pace of installations confirms that renewable technologies are still expanding much faster than conventional power sources.
Renewable electricity generation by region in 2024
Updated renewable electricity generation data confirm the continued dominance of solar and wind power.
Asia remained the world’s largest producer of renewable electricity in 2024, generating 4,589 TWh, an increase of 14.3% across all renewable technologies. Solar and wind delivered the strongest gains across the region.
Europe generated 1,758 TWh, up 7.2%, supported mainly by higher solar and hydropower output. North America produced 1,535 TWh, a 5.8% increase, while South America generated 1,047 TWh, up 2.9%.
The Middle East produced 76 TWh but recorded the highest regional growth rate worldwide at 17.3%, reflecting the rapid expansion of renewable energy investments across the region.
Central America and the Caribbean generated 55 TWh, representing annual growth of 5.8%.
The challenge ahead for 2035
To achieve the global objective agreed at COP28, tripling installed renewable capacity to more than 11 TW by 2030, specifically 11.17 TW, IRENA estimates that approximately 6.02 TW of additional renewable capacity must still be deployed over the coming years.
Building on IRENA’s roadmap, the Turkish Presidency of COP31 has announced a global target of electrifying 35% of final energy demand by 2035.
The latest renewable electricity generation data indicate that achieving this objective would require increasing renewables’ share of global electricity production from 31.7% in 2024 to 78% by 2035. Reaching that milestone would require global deployment to accelerate to roughly two and a half times the current pace.
