Renewables reached nearly 50% of global electricity capacity last year
Summary
IRENA's 2026 Renewable Capacity Statistics show renewables reached 49.4% of global installed electricity capacity in 2025, with a record 692 GW added and solar leading additions. The report also notes a rebound in non-renewable capacity and warns that despite renewables outpacing fossil fuels, the growth pace may not meet COP28 goals, highlighting energy security and resilience benefits of decentralized systems. AI-related datacenter demand and policy context are cited as factors influencing the energy transition.