IRENA: world added a record 692 GW of renewable power in 2025

Global renewable energy capacity reached 5,149 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2025 after the world added a record 692 GW in a single year, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported. Its Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026, released on 31 March 2026, finds that the 2025 additions expanded the renewable stock by 15.5% and made up 85.6% of all new power-generating capacity built worldwide during the year.

Solar did most of the work. IRENA attributes 511 GW of the 692 GW added – about three-quarters of all new renewable capacity – to solar photovoltaics, keeping solar the fastest-growing source for another year.

Note, while nuclear energy is not officially classified as a renewable energy source – since it relies on uranium, which is a finite, mined element that does not regrow over human timescales – it is a zero-emission and low-carbon power source. It generates electricity without releasing harmful air pollutants or greenhouse gases.

How fast did renewable energy capacity grow in 2025?

At 692 GW, the 2025 increase was the largest annual addition IRENA has recorded. Renewables accounted for 85.6% of all capacity added during the year, so fossil and other non-renewable sources made up less than a sixth of new build. Africa posted its largest annual increase to date, rising 15.9% to 82 GW, led by Ethiopia, South Africa and Egypt.

Two agencies, two totals

A second authoritative count puts 2025 additions higher. The IEA’s Renewables 2025 records about 800 GW of new renewable capacity for the year – a 16% rise it describes as the 23rd consecutive annual record – with solar PV additions passing 600 GW (605 GW) and wind adding 159 GW. The two figures are not directly comparable: IRENA compiles installed capacity as reported by national authorities at year-end, while the IEA publishes its own market estimates and forecasts. Their methods differ, so the totals do not match. Both agencies agree on the pattern – record additions, led by solar.

Table: 2025 renewable capacity additions as reported by IRENA and the IEA. The two use different methodologies, so the totals are not directly comparable.

Figure: New renewable power capacity added in 2025. Sources: IRENA, “Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026” (692 GW total; 511 GW solar); IEA, “Renewables 2025” (about 800 GW total; 605 GW solar). The agencies use different methodologies, so totals differ.

What record capacity does and does not settle

Building capacity is not the same as delivering electricity around the clock, and a larger renewable fleet sharpens questions about grid integration and storage. Winss has examined that reliability debate in Is Renewable Energy Really Unreliable Due to Intermittency?. The pace of solar growth brings a second challenge: the panels installed today become tomorrow’s waste stream, a problem covered in Solar Panel Recycling, a Crisis in the Making.

Looking ahead, the IEA expects global renewable capacity to roughly double by 2030, adding about 4,600 GW – close to the current combined power capacity of China, the European Union and Japan. Where that build-out lands, and how fast grids absorb it, will shape the next phase set out in The Future of Green Energy: Trends and Predictions.

About IRENA

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the International Renewable Energy Agency is the intergovernmental body that supports countries in their shift to renewable energy and serves as the main global repository of renewable energy data. It publishes the Renewable Capacity Statistics each year – the most widely used record of installed renewable power by country and technology – alongside longer-term analyses such as its World Energy Transitions Outlook. The 2026 edition of the statistics, the source of the figures above, extends that annual series with a full account of capacity installed through the end of 2025.

Sources: IRENA; IRENA (Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026); IEA (Renewables 2025)

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Figen Sekin

I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.