Global electricity from renewable sources hit a record high in 2024, underlining clean energy’s central role in the worldwide shift away from fossil fuels as nations push to electrify economies and cut emissions.
Data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows renewable power output climbed 9.8% last year to 9,836 terawatt hours (TWh). That gave renewables a 31.7% share of total global electricity generation.
The surge far exceeded growth in conventional power. Electricity from fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources rose by just 1.4% over the same period, widening the gap between clean and traditional energy technologies.
Solar and wind led the expansion and are now shaping electricity markets worldwide. The trend signals that most future growth in power demand will be met by renewables.
“The world is backing electrification as the core of the energy transition, and renewable electricity is powering that shift,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera.
La Camera noted that the push for electrification stems from a growing understanding that clean power boosts energy security, strengthens economies, and shields countries from fossil fuel price shocks.
But IRENA cautioned that current progress is still too slow to meet climate targets. Under the Action Agenda proposed by Türkiye, incoming host of COP31, electricity should make up 35% of final global energy demand by 2035. To meet that, renewables would need to jump from 31.7% of power generation in 2024 to 78% by 2035.
That requires renewable output to grow to about 2.5 times today’s level within 10 years.
“The technology exists and the costs make sense,” La Camera said. “The next step is to move quickly from fossil fuels to clean electricity in buildings, transport and industry.”
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell called the transition “irreversible,” saying markets are now choosing renewables because they are cheaper, safer and faster to install than fossil fuel plants. He contrasted this with the instability seen in oil and gas markets in recent years.
Stiell, however, warned that deployment is not even. Many developing countries still face funding gaps and weak infrastructure. He urged wealthy nations to honour climate finance pledges to help vulnerable economies join the transition.
Regionally, Asia remained the largest producer of renewable electricity, generating 4,589 TWh in 2024 — up 14.3% and nearly half of the global total. Growth was driven mainly by solar and wind.
Europe produced 1,758 TWh, a 7.2% increase, supported by solar and hydropower. North America generated 1,535 TWh, up 5.8%, while South America reached 1,047 TWh, a 2.9% rise.
The Middle East, though starting from a smaller base, posted the fastest growth at 17.3% with 76 TWh, as oil-producing states diversify energy sources. Africa generated 227 TWh, growing 5.7%, and Oceania produced 138 TWh, up 3.4%.
Investments also hit new highs. IRENA reported that 693 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity was added in 2025, bringing total installed renewable capacity to 5.2 terawatts (TW). Renewables now represent 49.5% of all global power generation capacity, putting them almost on par with fossil fuel plants.
Clean energy technologies made up 85.7% of all new electricity capacity added last year. That was down slightly from 92.7% in 2024, but IRENA said renewables still far outpaced new non-renewable additions.
