Global renewable capacity growth accelerates in 2025
Global renewable capacity recorded another year of strong expansion, according to the latest data published in the IRENA report “Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026”. The figures show both a robust annual increase and a continued rise in total installed power.
In 2025 alone, global renewable capacity increased by 692 GW, bringing the total cumulative installed capacity to 5,149 GW, equivalent to 5.1 TW. The data covers all renewable technologies, including solar, wind, concentrated solar power, bioenergy, geothermal and marine energy.
Solar power dominates renewable capacity growth
The expansion of global renewable capacity was once again driven primarily by solar energy. Photovoltaics alone contributed around 510 GW of new capacity in 2025, rising to 511.2 GW when including concentrated solar power.
This means solar accounted for approximately 75% of all new renewable installations worldwide, confirming its central role in the energy transition.
Wind energy followed with 159 GW of new capacity, while bioenergy ranked third, adding 3.4 GW and growing at an annual rate of 2.3%.
A resilient market despite policy uncertainty
The growth comes at a time when energy transition policies have shown signs of uncertainty in several advanced economies, while China, the undisputed leader in renewable expansion, has reshaped its incentive framework.
Despite this, market dynamics continue to favour renewables. As Francesco La Camera, Director-General of International Renewable Energy Agency, stated: “In a period of uncertainty, renewable energy continues to expand steadily and decisively. This not only reflects market preference, but also demonstrates the resilience of renewables.”
He added that more decentralised energy systems with higher shares of renewables are structurally more resilient and better equipped to withstand economic shocks.
Global solar capacity surpasses 2.3 TW
Over the past decade, solar capacity has grown exponentially, rising from just over 293 GW in 2016 to more than 2,383 GW in 2025.
China dominates the global ranking with approximately 1,200 GW of installed solar capacity, followed by the United States with 210.1 GW and India with 135.1 GW. Europe also maintains a strong presence, with Germany, Spain and Italy among the leading markets.
Growth remains highly concentrated geographically. China, the United States and the European Union together accounted for nearly 80% of all new solar capacity added in 2025.
Wind capacity continues steady expansion
Wind energy has followed a more gradual but consistent growth trajectory. In 2025, 159 GW of new wind capacity were installed globally, bringing total cumulative capacity to 1,291 GW, nearly triple the level recorded in 2016.
China leads the global wind market with 640.6 GW installed, followed by the United States and Germany. The strongest annual additions were also concentrated in China, which alone added over 119 GW in 2025.
Top countries driving renewable deployment
Both solar and wind expansion remain heavily concentrated in a limited number of major economies. China continues to dominate across all metrics, while the United States, India and key European countries play a significant supporting role.
This concentration raises a strategic question often overlooked: whether the current pace of global renewable capacity growth is sufficiently diversified to ensure long-term system resilience and equitable energy transition worldwide.