According to data published by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the installed capacity of renewable energy has reached 5,149 gigawatts (GW), driven by an unprecedented annual increase of 692 GW. With a growth rate of 15.5%, the sector confirms an acceleration well above that of fossil fuels, whose capacities have only increased by 116 GW over the same period.
A dynamic is bringing the world closer to a symbolic threshold: renewables now account for 49.4% of global electricity capacity. In other words, nearly one kilowatt out of two installed on the planet today comes from carbon-free sources. More than 85% of new capacities commissioned in 2025 are renewable, following the trend of 2023 (86%) and 2022 (84%) but falling behind compared to 2024 (92%).
The solar sector stands out as a key pillar of the transition. Solar alone has contributed 511 GW of new installations in a year, bringing its total capacity to 2,392 GW. This progress represents nearly three-quarters of global expansion.
