Solar power was the main force behind record growth in global renewable capacity in 2024, report finds Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025, released this Tuesday (26) by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency).
Last year, renewable energy capacity reached 4.448 GW, with the addition of 585 GW — representing 92,5% of all global electricity capacity expansion in 2024 and a record annual growth of 15,1%.
The photovoltaic source was the protagonist of this advance, adding 451,9 GW to the global matrix — a growth of 32,2% compared to the previous year. China led this movement, being responsible for 278 GW of the new solar capacity, followed by India, with 24,5 GW.
“Every year, renewables break their own expansion records, but we still face huge regional disparities and time is against us. The 2030 deadline is imminent,” warned sco La Camera, Director General of the IRENA.
Global goal still distant
Despite the impressive performance, the current growth rate is still insufficient to achieve the global target of tripling installed renewable capacity by 2030, as set at COP28. To achieve this, expansion would need to occur at a rate of 16,6% per year until the end of the decade.
The world currently has 1.865 GW of installed solar capacity. Together with wind, which totaled 1.133 GW by the end of 2024, these two sources ed for 96,6% of net renewable capacity additions last year.
Regional inequality
The IRENA report also draws attention to the geographical inequality in the distribution of new capacity. Asia ed for the majority of the growth, with China alone ing for almost 64% of global new capacity.
In contrast, Central America and the Caribbean ed for just 3,2% of the total additions in 2024. G7 countries ed for 14,3% of the additions, while G20 ed for 90,3%.
“Record growth is creating jobs, reducing energy bills and cleaning the air. But this transition needs to be faster and fairer,” said António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, highlighting the need to include all countries in the energy revolution.
Off-grid systems and other highlights
Another relevant advance was the growth of off-grid electricity in developing regions. Capacity almost tripled in 2024, with off-grid photovoltaic systems standing out, reaching 6,3 GW.
Furthermore, hydropower recovered, reaching 1.283 GW, while bioenergy and geothermal showed more modest growth, with 4,6 GW and 0,4 GW, respectively.
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