Renewable electricity generation increased by 9.8% year-on-year in 2024, significantly outpacing non-renewable generation, according to the Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The report shows that renewable energy generated 9,836 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024, accounting for 31.7% of global electricity generation, while non-renewable electricity generation grew by only 1.4% during the same period.
IRENA said the latest data reinforces the critical role of renewable energy in supporting global electrification and achieving long-term climate goals. The findings come as the incoming COP31 Presidency of Türkiye has proposed a global target to increase electrification to 35% of final energy demand by 2035 under its Action Agenda.
According to IRENA’s analysis, achieving this target would require renewable electricity to increase its share of global power generation from 31.7% in 2024 to 78% by 2035, representing an expansion of approximately 2.5 times current levels.
Commenting on the report, Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, said the growing global support for electrification reflects increasing recognition that renewable electricity is essential for strengthening energy security, resilience, and economic competitiveness. He emphasized that the technologies are commercially available and called for a faster transition from fossil fuels to clean electricity across buildings, transport, and industrial sectors.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said the latest figures demonstrate the accelerating global transition toward clean energy, following the consensus reached at COP30 that the energy transition is irreversible. However, he noted that greater financial support remains essential to help vulnerable countries accelerate renewable energy deployment and meet climate commitments.
The report identified solar and wind energy as the primary drivers of renewable electricity growth during 2024.
Asia remained the world’s largest renewable electricity producer, generating 4,589 TWh, a 14.3% increase from the previous year, supported by strong expansion in solar and wind power. Europe generated 1,758 TWh, up 7.2%, led by growth in solar and hydropower, while North America recorded 1,535 TWh, representing a 5.8% increase.
South America generated 1,047 TWh, increasing by 2.9%, followed by Eurasia with 411 TWh (11.9% growth), Africa with 227 TWh (5.7% growth), Oceania with 138 TWh (3.4% growth), and the Middle East, which recorded the fastest regional growth rate of 17.3%, generating 76 TWh. Central America and the Caribbean produced 55 TWh, reflecting a 5.8% increase.
IRENA also released revised renewable energy capacity figures for 2025, reporting that global renewable energy additions reached a record 693 GW during the year. The updated statistics show that total installed renewable energy capacity stood at 5.2 TW by the end of 2025, accounting for 49.5% of total global installed power capacity.
Although renewables represented 85.7% of total global capacity additions in 2025, down from 92.7% in 2024, IRENA noted that renewable energy deployment continues to significantly outpace the expansion of conventional power generation worldwide.
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