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2h ago

Renewables Near Half of Global Power Capacity as Record 2025 Additions Are Led by Solar

Fresh IRENA and U.S. FERC reports underscore solar’s lead and the growing case for renewables as an energy security tool.

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The war in Iran could accelerate the world's electrification turn.
Rows of large solar panels sit on the ground in an industrial area.
Solar panels sit on the roof of residential properties in Sydney, Australia, March 30, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams

Overview

  • IRENA’s 2026 statistics released Wednesday report a record 692 GW of renewable capacity added in 2025, taking the total to 5,149 GW and lifting renewables to 49.4% of installed power.
  • Solar drove the surge with 511 GW added and wind added 159 GW, while renewables made up 85.6% of all new capacity.
  • Asia supplied about 74% of the new build and IRENA flagged a rebound in fossil projects as China added roughly 100 GW of non‑renewable capacity, mostly coal.
  • U.S. FERC data show solar additions fell 22% in 2025 to 26.5 GW, yet solar and wind still supplied about 88% of new capacity and FERC projects 86 GW more solar by 2028.
  • In the UK, provisional figures show renewables generated a record 52.5% of electricity in 2025, highlighting how capacity gains can lower fossil exposure even though generation shares trail capacity shares.