Global efforts to expand solar, wind, and storage technologies, alongside innovative offshore wind and hydrogen solutions, are redefining the path to a low-carbon future. The speed of deployment is reshaping energy markets, with clean power sources increasingly setting the pace for global electricity growth.
In 2024, renewable power capacity expanded by a record 585 gigawatts, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewables represented 92.5% of all new capacity, lifting their share of installed global power to 46%. Solar PV was the standout, adding 452 GW in a single year — more than three-quarters of the global total. Wind power followed, contributing 113 GW. These figures underline how two technologies have become the backbone of global decarbonisation.
Why solar continues to dominate
No other energy technology is growing as quickly as solar. Global solar generation passed 2,000 terawatt-hours in 2024, roughly double the level reached only three years earlier, according to Ember. Cost reductions, rapid installation times, and modular applications are driving uptake in both developed and emerging economies. From residential rooftops to multi-gigawatt utility projects, solar is the defining growth story in clean power.
Looking ahead, SolarPower Europe projects global solar installations could reach 655 GW in 2025. Annual additions are expected to remain in the high hundreds of gigawatts through the rest of the decade, sustaining solar’s position as the fastest-growing source of new generation.
Wind gains momentum, offshore rises
Wind remains the other pillar of renewable expansion. Global wind installations reached about 117 GW in 2023 and stayed near that level in 2024, bringing total installed wind capacity above one terawatt, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Wind generation supplied more than 8% of the world’s electricity last year.
Offshore wind, while still a smaller share, is growing quickly. Global offshore capacity now stands at around 83 GW and is set for strong growth as projects in China, Europe, and the United States move forward. GWEC forecasts annual offshore installations rising to about 34 GW by 2030, supported by falling costs, larger turbines, and expanding auction pipelines. Floating offshore wind is also moving from concept to reality, with new leases in the UK’s Celtic Sea and plans for a national test centre in Japan. Though installed floating capacity remains modest, these early steps are setting the stage for commercial rollout.
Storage and integration challenges
The rapid rise of solar and wind brings challenges of variability and grid integration. Energy storage is therefore becoming central to system planning. Utility-scale batteries, largely lithium-ion, saw rapid deployment in 2024 across China, the United States, and Europe. BloombergNEF data show installations in the tens of gigawatt-hours, with triple-digit growth expected in 2025 as costs decline and supply chains expand. Pumped hydro remains important, while digital solutions such as smart grids and demand-response technologies are helping to stabilise networks as variable renewables scale.
Regional disparities and 2030 targets
Despite record growth, deployment remains concentrated. China, the United States, and the European Union accounted for 84% of renewable additions in 2024. Africa added just 4.2 GW, less than 1% of the global total. IRENA warns that unless financing and infrastructure gaps are addressed, many regions risk being left behind in the energy transition. To meet the global goal of tripling renewable capacity to 11 TW by 2030, annual additions would need to exceed 1,120 GW each year for the rest of the decade — roughly double current levels.
A shifting global energy mix
The trajectory is nonetheless clear. Renewables added 858 TWh of new generation in 2024 alone, according to Ember, capping fossil power growth in many markets even under extreme weather conditions. Solar and wind now represent cost-effective, scalable solutions to decarbonisation. Coupled with storage, green hydrogen, and smarter grids, they are creating a new energy mix that is more resilient, more local, and less dependent on volatile fossil fuel imports.
The environmental and economic implications are profound. Clean energy deployment is cutting emissions, improving air quality, and supporting energy security. At the same time, it is driving major job creation in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Yet the pace must accelerate. Record growth in 2024 shows what is possible. Meeting the 2030 targets will depend on translating these successes into broader and faster adoption worldwide.
