Global renewable energy capacity grew by more than 15% in 2024, according to the Renewable Energy Statistics 2025 report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) this week.
However, the agency warns that regional disparities in growth are widening.
Asia accounted for 71% of new capacity additions, maintaining its lead for a second consecutive year. Europe and North America followed, contributing 12.3% and 7.8% respectively.
In contrast, Africa, Eurasia, Central America, and the Caribbean together made up just 2.8% of global additions. Despite its potential, Africa’s renewable capacity increased by only 7.2%.
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “The renewable energy boom is transforming global energy markets, driving economies and creating vast investment opportunities.
“However, the growing regional divide highlights that not everyone is benefiting equally from this transition.”
He added: “Bridging the divide and closing the investment gap between countries and regions is critical. It requires targeted policies, international financing, and partnerships that unlock capital and technology where they are needed most.”
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell echoed these concerns, saying: “The global shift to renewables is increasingly inevitable, but its massive human and economic benefits are not yet being shared across all countries and regions.”
“To deliver on the global agreement at COP28 to triple renewables by 2030, we need to move much further and faster… The investments required will pay huge dividends – cutting emissions, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting affordable, secure energy for all.”
Despite a record-breaking 582 GW being added last year, IRENA notes that the world remains off track to meet the 11.2 TW target needed by 2030.
