Solar growth drives global renewable capacity to 50 percent
Renewables reached nearly 50 percent of global power capacity in 2025 led by record solar growth. The sector is now closer to meeting 2030 climate targets.
Renewable energy capacity reached nearly 50% of the global total in 2025, following a record-breaking year for solar installations. Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) indicates that global renewable power capacity hit 5,149 gigawatts (GW) by the end of the year, an increase of 692 GW from 2024.
The surge comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East, which has caused significant fluctuations in oil markets. While some sectors have called for renewed investment in fossil fuels to ensure stability, analysts point out that nations with robust renewable infrastructure have been better shielded from these market shocks.
“The Middle East crisis has, in some ways confirmed dramatically energy security is not something we can be sure of with fossil fuels,” IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera told Reuters.
Solar power was the primary engine of growth, contributing 511 GW to reach a total of 2,392 GW. This expansion far outpaced the 116 GW increase in fossil fuel capacity. As a result, the share of renewables in global electricity capacity rose to 49.4% in 2025, up from 46.3% the previous year.
At the COP28 climate summit in 2023, more than 100 nations committed to tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. According to La Camera, the recent additions suggest the world is moving closer to this ambitious target.
“This 700 gigawatts means that we may be quite close in 2030 to the tripling target, not exactly the triple, but very close to it,” he said.
The annual growth rate for renewable capacity climbed to 15.5% in 2025, compared to 15.1% in 2024. To meet the 2030 objective, industry groups estimate that a consistent annual growth rate of 16.6% will be necessary. Wind energy also saw significant gains, with 159 GW of new installations bringing its total capacity to 1,291 GW.
While capacity represents the maximum potential output, actual generation depends on factors such as weather and maintenance. Nevertheless, earlier data from the think tank Ember showed that renewables generated more electricity than coal globally in the first half of 2025, accounting for 34% of the world's total electricity supply.
