2024 marks a new chapter in the global energy transition: 92.5% of the new production capacity installed in the world comes from renewable sources. This means that almost all the energy added to the global system – new plants and central built in the last year – uses sources such as Sun, wind, water and biomassincreasingly reducing dependence on fossil fuels. This is what emerges from the annual report of the International Agency for renewable energies (Irena), which highlights a record expansion, mainly driven by solar and wind.
A historical acceleration, but will it be enough?
The growth of renewable energy capacity reached 4,448 Gigawatt (GW) in 2024, with an annual increase of 15.1%, the highest ever recorded. However, to achieve the international goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030, The growth rate should rise to 16.6% per year. “Renewables demonstrate their economic sustainability and ease of implementation every year,” he said in a note Francesco the Chambergeneral manager of Irena. “But we must face the persistent regional disparities and the race against time for 2030”.
Solar and wind turmoil, but the inequalities remain
Solar energy recorded an extraordinary increase of 452 GW, with the China which alone contributed with 278 GW. THE’India follows at a distance with 24.5 GW. Elic energy also reached a significant goal with 1,133 total GW, thanks above all to China and United States.
But not all countries grow at the same rhythm. Asia is confirmed as the absolute leader of expansion, with China representing 64% of the new installed capacity. In contrast, Central America and the Caribbean contributed only to 3.2%. “The renewable energy is closing the era of fossil fuels,” commented the UN secretary general António Guterresunderlining the need for fair access to clean technologies.
Other growing renewable sources
Hydroelectric energy has seen a recovery thanks to new plants in China, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Pakistan. Bioenergia and geothermalia have also grown: the first driven by China and France, the second from investments in New Zealand, Indonesia and the United States. The ability of off-grid generation, tripled in 2024 and arrived at 14.3 GW, a positive signal for the electrification of the most remote areas, is also growing.
Despite record numbers, the goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030 remains a challenge. The race against time for the energy transition is in progress: the future of energy is renewable, but the speed of change will make the difference.
