Baker's TakeRenewables hit record 31.7% of global electricity as solar surges but hydropower holds top generation spot
By
Mr Bagel
Renewable power generation grew at its fastest pace ever in 2024, with renewables accounting for 31.7% of global electricity generation, according to new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported by Zawya. The milestone marks a significant acceleration in the energy transition, driven largely by solar and wind capacity additions.
"Renewable power generation records its fastest growth ever"
Zawya highlighted that this growth represents a record annual increase, underscoring the accelerating shift away from fossil fuels. The data shows renewables are now a central pillar of the global power mix.
Solar generation surged 29.7% year-on-year to 2,105.8 terawatt-hours (TWh), according to pv-tech.org. That growth rate was the highest among major renewable technologies, pushing solar's cumulative installed capacity to 2,396 gigawatts (GW), the largest of any renewable source. However, hydropower remained the single largest renewable electricity generator at 4,472.4 TWh, followed by wind at 2,499.3 TWh.
"Solar generation surged 29.7% year-on-year to 2,105.8 TWh"
pv-tech.org also reported that renewables now make up 49.5% of all electricity generation capacity globally in 2025, up from 46.2% the previous year. This capacity share, combined with the generation record, signals that renewables are not just being installed but are also increasingly displacing conventional sources in actual power output.
The IRENA data, covered by both Zawya and pv-tech.org, paints a clear picture: solar is expanding faster than any other renewable technology, yet hydropower remains the workhorse of clean electricity. The rapid growth in both capacity and generation suggests the world is on track for further records in the years ahead.
The reporting
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