The original lead focused on the annual growth rate. The stronger news element is that renewables now generate nearly one-third of global electricity, making this the primary focus.
The report showed that electricity generation from non-renewable sources rose by just 1.4% over the same period.
Renewables accounted for 31.7% of global electricity generation in 2024, producing a total of 9,836 terawatt-hours (TWh).
Drawing on IRENA's roadmap, the incoming COP31 Presidency of Türkiye has announced a global electrification target of raising electricity's share in final energy consumption to 35% by 2035 as part of its Action Agenda.
According to the report, achieving that goal would require renewables to increase their share of global electricity generation from 31.7% in 2024 to 78% by 2035, roughly 2.5 times the current level.
- Solar and wind continue to drive growth
Asia remained the world's largest renewable electricity producer in 2024, generating 4,589 TWh, a 14.3% increase from the previous year, supported primarily by rapid growth in solar and wind power.
Europe produced 1,758 TWh, up 7.2%, driven mainly by solar and hydropower generation.
North America generated 1,535 TWh, marking a 5.8% increase, while South America produced 1,047 TWh, up 2.9%, reflecting growth across all renewable technologies.
Eurasia generated 411 TWh, an increase of 11.9%, while Africa produced 227 TWh, up 5.7%, with growth across all renewable sources except geothermal energy.
Oceania generated 138 TWh, an increase of 3.4%, while the Middle East recorded the fastest regional growth rate at 17.3%, producing 76 TWh. Central America and the Caribbean generated 55 TWh, up 5.8%.
- Renewable capacity reaches 5.2 TW
Annual renewable capacity additions have increased steadily over the past 25 years, reaching a record 693 gigawatts (GW) in 2025, the report said.
By the end of 2025, global renewable capacity had reached 5.2 terawatts (TW), representing 49.5% of total installed power generation capacity worldwide.
Renewables accounted for 85.7% of total global capacity additions in 2025, down from 92.7% a year earlier.
"Despite a decrease in the share of renewables in total capacity expansion, the overall positive trend in installed capacity confirms that renewable deployment continues to outpace non-renewable growth," the report said.
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said the latest figures demonstrate growing global momentum behind electrification.
"Growing support for global electrification reflects a shared recognition that clean electricity strengthens energy security, resilience and competitiveness," he said.
He added that achieving global energy transition goals would require renewable electricity generation to expand at an unprecedented pace over the next decade to around 2.5 times today's level.
"The technologies are available, and the economics are compelling. Now we must swiftly shift from fossil fuels to clean electricity across buildings, transport and industry," he said.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
