Global renewable energy installations reached a record high last year, with 92.5% of all new electricity coming from solar, wind, and other clean sources, according to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
China accounted for nearly 64% of the new renewable electricity generated in 2024. In total, the world added 585 gigawatts of new renewable electrical energy, marking a 15.1% increase from 2023. Solar, wind, and other green energy sources now make up 46% of global electricity production.
However, despite this significant growth, the world is still not on track to meet the international target of tripling renewable energy by 2030. IRENA estimates that the global efforts are falling 28% short of this goal, which was set in 2023 as part of the global push to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the growth of renewable energy, stating that it is driving the transition away from fossil fuels. He highlighted that this record-breaking growth is creating jobs, reducing energy costs, and improving air quality. However, he emphasized that the transition to clean energy must be accelerated and made more equitable.
In 2024, China added nearly 374 gigawatts of renewable energy, with three-quarters of that coming from solar power. This figure is more than eight times the amount the United States added and five times what Europe contributed.
China now has almost 887 gigawatts of solar power, far outpacing the United States with 176 gigawatts, Germany with nearly 90 gigawatts, France with 21 gigawatts, and the United Kingdom with over 17 gigawatts.
United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell used the latest renewable energy figures to urge Europe and other industrialized nations to keep pace with China.
“In the absence of one government taking a leadership role in climate action, there is an opportunity for others to step forward and claim the significant benefits,” Stiell told European leaders in Berlin, referring to former U.S. President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. He emphasized that the clean energy transition could become Europe’s economic driving force, especially as new sources of growth are crucial for maintaining living standards in the coming decades.
Stiell pointed to the IRENA data, which shows that the global renewable energy boom is unstoppable, and noted that the green energy market reached $2 trillion in 2024.
Neil Grant, a senior policy analyst at Climate Analytics, which tracks global climate action, suggested that renewable energy growth could accelerate even further. “If renewables grew 15% in 2024, imagine how much faster they could grow with comprehensive, credible, and ambitious climate policies worldwide,” said Grant, who was not involved in the IRENA report.