The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) officially confirmed that 2024 was a record year for renewables additions to global power capacity. Renewables represented more than 92 per cent of all new electricity generation capacity installed last year.
Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025 report released by IRENA shows a massive increase in renewable power capacity during 2024, reaching 4 448 gigawatts (GW). The 585 GW addition last year indicates a 92.5% share of the total capacity expansion, and a record rate of annual growth (15.1%).
Although 2024 marks yet another benchmark in renewable energy capacity and growth, progress still falls short of the 11.2 terawatts needed to align with 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, according to IRENA.
The amount of renewables added represents more than the total electricity capacity of Brazil and Japan combined.
Europe’s capacity grew by 9 per cent – with Germany contributing more than one-quarter of that growth. Africa’s capacity grew by almost 7 per cent.
In addition, progress yet again reflects significant geographic disparities. As in previous years, most of the increase occurred in Asia, with the greatest share being contributed by China – almost 64% of the global added capacity – while 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 in 2024.
“The continuous growth of renewables we witness each year is evidence that renewables are economically viable and readily deployable. Each year they keep breaking their own expansion records, but we also face the same challenges of great regional disparities and the ticking clock as the 2030 deadline is imminent,” - said IRENA Director-General, Francesco La Camera.
“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. I call on governments to leverage on the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) as an opportunity to outline a clear blueprint of their renewable energy ambitions, and on the international community to enhance collaborations in support of the ambitions of Global South’s countries,” he added.
With this regard, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said that renewable energy is not only powering down the fossil fuel age, the record-breaking growth is creating jobs, lowering energy bills and cleaning the air.
"Renewables renew economies. But the shift to clean energy must be faster and fairer – with all countries given the chance to fully benefit from cheap, clean renewable power,” - he added
Since 2010, the average cost of wind power has plunged 60%. Solar is 90% cheaper.
In 2023, clean energy sectors accounted for five per cent of economic growth in India and six in the US. It accounted for a fifth of China’s GDP growth, and a third of the EU’s.
Solar and wind energy continued to expand the most, jointly accounting for 96.6% of all net renewable additions in 2024. Over three-quarters of the capacity expansion was in solar energy which increased by 32.2%, reaching 1 865 GW, followed by wind energy which grew by 11.1%.
Technology highlights:
Solar: solar photovoltaics increased by 451.9 GW last year. China alone added 278 GW to the total expansion, followed by India (24.5 GW).
Hydropower (excluding pumped storage hydropower): capacity reached 1 283 GW, demonstrating a notable rebound from 2023, driven by China. Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nepal Pakistan, Tanzania, and Viet Nam added more than 0.5 GW each.
Wind: wind energy expansion declined slightly, to a total of 1 133 GW capacity by the end of 2024. Expansion was once again dominated by China and the United States (US).
Bioenergy: expansion rebounded in 2024, with an increase of 4.6 GW of capacity compared to an increase of 3.0 GW in 2023. The growth was driven by China and France with 1.3 GW of additions each.
Geothermal: geothermal energy increased by 0.4 GW overall, led by New Zealand, followed by Indonesia, Türkiye, and the US.
Off-grid electricity (excluding Eurasia, Europe and North America): capacity expansion nearly tripled, growing by 1.7 GW to reach 14.3 GW. Growth was dominated by off-grid solar energy which reached 6.3 GW by 2024.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has approved an agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on strategic partnership in the development and transmission of green energy.
AIIB approves $500M program to boost regional energy security with hydropower in Tajikistan, addressing growing demand and promoting renewable energy in Central Asia.
Kazakhstan unveils its energy strategy to 2035, focusing on renewables, grid upgrades, and nuclear power to cut coal reliance and emissions.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "very angry" and "pissed off" over remarks about Ukraine’s leadership. He warned of tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow is deemed responsible for prolonging the war.
Trump threatens to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow obstructs efforts to end the war in Ukraine, expressing frustration over Putin's comments on Zelenskiy’s leadership.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential airstrikes and secondary tariffs if no agreement is reached over its nuclear programme, following ongoing talks and previous sanctions reimposition after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 deal.
Richard Chamberlain, renowned for his iconic roles in TV dramas and films, has passed away at 90. The Emmy-nominated actor, famed for his work in "Dr. Kildare" and "Shogun," left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving 3,400 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
The World Bank reported that air pollution leads to approximately 5.7 million deaths each year, with 95% of fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income nations. It also causes economic losses amounting to 5% of global GDP due to health impacts, productivity decline, and reduced life expectancy.
France, Italy, and Slovakia have urged the EU to simplify its carbon border levy rules this year, calling for reduced red tape and standardized emissions calculations to ease the burden on businesses.
The Sydney opera house, and other iconic national monuments round the world turned off their lights at 8:30pm local time to commemorate earth hour.
A new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created, the UK government has announced. 20 million trees set to be planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.
Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, with the last three years seeing the largest mass loss on record, according to a UNESCO report. The accelerated ice loss, driven by climate change, is contributing to rising sea levels.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "very angry" and "pissed off" over remarks about Ukraine’s leadership. He warned of tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow is deemed responsible for prolonging the war.
Trump threatens to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow obstructs efforts to end the war in Ukraine, expressing frustration over Putin's comments on Zelenskiy’s leadership.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential airstrikes and secondary tariffs if no agreement is reached over its nuclear programme, following ongoing talks and previous sanctions reimposition after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 deal.
Richard Chamberlain, renowned for his iconic roles in TV dramas and films, has passed away at 90. The Emmy-nominated actor, famed for his work in "Dr. Kildare" and "Shogun," left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment