Renewable Energy Statistics 2026: Global Capacity, Generation & Market Data

Renewable Energy Statistics 2026

Author: Axis Intelligence Research and Aidan Jad
Last updated: June 3, 2026
Next scheduled update: Q3 2026 (September)
License: CC BY 4.0 — freely reusable with attribution
Download: Renewable Energy Dataset 2026 (CSV)

Renewables surpassed coal as the world’s largest source of electricity in 2025 for the first time in over a century — generating 33.8% of global power versus coal’s 33.0%, according to Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026. Total installed renewable capacity reached 5,149 GW after 692 GW of new additions, the largest single-year increase ever recorded. Solar led that expansion, but wind, storage, and hydropower each set records of their own. This hub aggregates the primary data across every major renewable technology and links to Axis Intelligence’s dedicated technology reports for deeper analysis.

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Key Findings

• Global renewable capacity hit 5,149 GW by end-2025, after the addition of 692 GW — a 15.5% annual increase and the largest single-year renewable build-out on record, per IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026.
• Renewables overtook coal in global electricity generation in 2025, supplying 33.8% of world electricity versus coal’s 33.0% — the first time in more than 100 years coal has been displaced as the leading source, per Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026.
• Battery storage added 108 GW in 2025, a 40% year-on-year increase, with installed capacity now eleven times higher than in 2021, per the IEA Global Energy Review 2026.
• Solar PV alone accounted for 74% of all new renewable capacity in 2025, adding 510 GW — more than the entire global solar base that existed in 2016 (IRENA, April 2026).
• Wind added 159 GW in 2025, growing 14% year-on-year, with total global wind capacity reaching 1,291 GW (IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026).

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Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 — interactive dashboard covering global capacity, generation mix, battery storage growth, investment, employment and 2030 projections.

The Axis Intelligence Renewable Technology Momentum Index (RTMI) — An Original Metric

Raw capacity figures are the standard currency of renewable energy reporting. They are also systematically misleading as a standalone measure of transition momentum, because they treat a 1 GW addition in a 10 GW market identically to a 1 GW addition in a 500 GW market.

Axis Intelligence has constructed a Renewable Technology Momentum Index (RTMI) for the five primary clean power technologies, designed to capture three dimensions simultaneously:

• Annual growth rate (% capacity increase in 2025 vs. 2024 — IRENA data)
• Absolute generation impact (TWh added in 2025 — IEA Global Energy Review 2026)
• Cost trajectory (LCOE direction: falling rapidly / stable / rising — IRENA cost data 2024–2025)

The RTMI is scored 1–10. Technologies scoring above 7 are driving the transition. Technologies scoring below 4 are mature but not accelerating. The index is recalculated with each quarterly update.

Technology	2025 Capacity Added	2025 Growth Rate	Generation Impact (TWh added)	LCOE Trajectory	RTMI Score
Battery Storage	108 GW	+40%	Indirect — enabling firm RE	Falling rapidly (−30% in 2025)	9.2
Solar PV	510 GW	+27%	+600 TWh	Falling steadily	8.7
Onshore Wind	~145 GW	+13%	+300 TWh est.	Stable–rising in some markets	6.4
Offshore Wind	~14 GW	+12%	+60 TWh est.	Falling but high absolute level	5.8
Hydropower	18.4 GW	+1.4%	Flat (drought impacts)	Stable	3.1

Axis Intelligence Research, June 2026. Inputs from IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026, IEA Global Energy Review 2026, IRENA Renewable Power Generation Costs 2024. Methodology in full below.

What the RTMI reveals that standard reporting omits: Battery storage, despite being absent from most “renewable energy statistics” articles, now scores highest on transition momentum — because its function is to make all other renewable generation dispatchable. A solar article without a storage chapter, and a storage article without a solar chapter, each tell half a story. The RTMI integrates them.

The index also surfaces a counterintuitive finding: hydropower, despite representing the largest installed base of any renewable technology (1,296 GW), scores lowest on momentum — because drought cycles constrained its output in 2025, and annual additions are a fraction of solar or wind. Hydro is foundational but not the driver of acceleration.

The Global Picture: Capacity and Generation

5,149 GW — The New Baseline

By end-2025, total global renewable power capacity stood at 5,149 GW, according to IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026. Of this total, solar PV led at 2,392 GW, followed by hydropower at 1,296 GW, wind at 1,291 GW, bioenergy at 154 GW, and geothermal at 16 GW.

Technology	Installed Capacity End-2025 (GW)	Share of Total Renewables	Annual Addition 2025 (GW)
Solar PV	2,392	46.5%	510
Hydropower	1,296	25.2%	18.4
Wind (all)	1,291	25.1%	159
Bioenergy	154	3.0%	3.4
Geothermal	16	0.3%	~1
Total Renewables	5,149	100%	692

Source: IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026.

The single most important structural fact in this table: solar and wind together now represent 71.6% of global renewable capacity, up from roughly 30% a decade ago. Hydropower, which dominated renewable capacity for most of the 20th century, has been overtaken by solar alone in absolute installed gigawatts for the first time.

Renewables vs. Coal: The Historic Crossover

In 2025, global renewable electricity generation reached approximately 10,730 TWh — surpassing coal-fired generation (10,476 TWh) for the first time since the industrial revolution, per Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026. Renewables supplied 33.8% of world electricity; coal supplied 33.0%.

This crossover is the central statistical fact of 2025. It was not a near-miss or a weather-dependent anomaly. The IEA’s own forecast in its Electricity 2025 report had identified this moment as a structural inevitability: “Renewables will surpass coal-fired generation in 2025 and coal’s share will decline below 33% for the first time in the last 100 years.”

The IEA’s Electricity 2026 report now forecasts renewables approaching a 50% share of global electricity generation by 2030, rising from 37% in 2025.

Electricity Source	2025 Generation (TWh)	Global Share	YoY Change
Renewables (all)	~10,730	33.8%	+~1,500 TWh
Coal	~10,476	33.0%	−0.5%
Natural gas	~7,200	~22.7%	+modest
Nuclear	~2,800	~8.8%	+record
Oil	~700	~2.2%	declining

Sources: Ember Global Electricity Review 2026; IEA Global Energy Review 2026.

Regional Concentration: The Asia Dominance Problem

Asia accounted for 74.2% of all new renewable capacity additions in 2025, with 513 GW of new installations — a growth rate of 21.6%. China alone added 440 GW of renewable capacity, predominantly solar. Europe added 76.8 GW (+9.0%). North America contributed approximately 60–70 GW.

The G7 countries (excluding the EU) now account for just 22.1% of global renewable capacity — down from a much higher share a decade ago. The energy transition is geographically lopsided, and that concentration carries supply chain, geopolitical, and technology transfer risks that any responsible renewable energy data resource should acknowledge.

Solar PV

Solar photovoltaics is covered in comprehensive depth in Axis Intelligence’s dedicated report: Solar Energy Statistics 2026, which includes the original Axis Intelligence Solar Deployment Efficiency Index (SDEI) and country-by-country analysis. The figures below are the primary top-line numbers for integration into the broader renewable context.

Metric	2025 Figure	Source
Global installed capacity	~2,392 GW	IRENA
Annual capacity addition	~510 GW	IRENA
Global electricity generated	~2,800 TWh	IEA
Share of global electricity	~8%	IEA
Global weighted-avg. LCOE	$0.043/kWh (2024)	IRENA
Solar jobs (2024)	7.3 million	IRENA/ILO

The defining solar statistic of 2025: the 510 GW added in one year exceeds the entire global solar base as it stood in 2017. → Full analysis: Solar Energy Statistics 2026

Wind Energy

1,291 GW and Growing

Wind energy reached 1,291 GW of total installed capacity globally by end-2025, adding 158.7 GW during the year — a 14% annual growth rate, per IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026. Wind and solar together accounted for 96.8% of all new renewable capacity additions in 2025.

Metric	2025 Figure	Source
Total installed capacity (wind, all)	1,291 GW	IRENA
Annual addition (onshore + offshore)	158.7 GW	IRENA
Annual growth rate	+14%	IRENA
China’s share of additions	~75%	IRENA
India additions	6.3 GW	IRENA

China accounted for nearly three-quarters of global wind capacity additions in 2025, adding approximately 119.4 GW. This concentration mirrors the solar picture and reflects China’s dominant position in both wind turbine manufacturing and state-directed grid expansion.

Onshore vs. Offshore: A Diverging Market

Onshore wind represents approximately 85% of total wind capacity additions globally. It is a mature technology at competitive cost in most major markets — the IEA places its global weighted-average LCOE at $0.034/kWh in 2024, making it the single cheapest source of new electricity generation worldwide.

Offshore wind is a different economic story. It remains significantly more expensive, with global weighted-average LCOE at approximately $0.075/kWh in 2024 (IRENA). However, it carries a critical grid advantage: offshore wind generates power more consistently and at higher capacity factors than onshore, typically 40–55% versus 25–35% for onshore installations. The IEA’s Renewables 2025 forecast expects offshore wind to grow strongly through 2030, with 140 GW of new capacity over the 2025–2030 period — more than double the preceding five-year total.

Wind’s 2030 Trajectory

According to the IEA’s Renewables 2025 forecast, global wind capacity is expected to nearly double to over 2,000 GW by 2030. Onshore wind cumulative additions over 2025–2030 are forecast at 732 GW, a 45% increase over the prior five-year period. Annual offshore wind additions are projected to expand as major European markets (Germany, the Netherlands, UK) and China accelerate pipeline development.

Battery Storage

The Fastest-Growing Power Technology on Earth

Battery storage in 2025 is not a supporting character. It is the fastest-growing power technology on the planet — a distinction the IEA’s Global Energy Review 2026 applies explicitly. In 2025, 108 GW of new battery storage capacity was deployed worldwide, 40% more than in 2024. Total installed battery storage capacity is now eleven times higher than it was in 2021.

Metric	Figure	Source
New battery capacity deployed (2025)	108 GW	IEA Global Energy Review 2026
YoY growth	+40%	IEA
Installed capacity vs. 2021	11×	IEA
Utility-scale share of 2025 additions	~80%	IEA
China share of 2025 additions	~60%	IEA
Battery cost decline (2025 alone)	~30%	IRENA

Around 80% of new battery capacity in 2025 was utility-scale. The remainder was behind-the-meter capacity installed by commercial and residential consumers. Lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry now accounts for approximately 90% of deployments — chosen over more energy-dense chemistries because LFP is cheaper and better suited to frequent daily cycling.

Why Storage Changes the Renewable Statistics Picture

Most renewable energy statistics articles treat storage as a footnote. This reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the energy system being built. Battery storage does not generate electricity — but it determines when and how reliably solar and wind generation reaches consumers. Without it, a grid with 40% solar penetration suffers severe evening demand valleys and price crashes at midday. With it, the same grid approaches firm, dispatchable clean power.

According to the IEA, firm LCOE for co-located solar-plus-storage systems in high-irradiance regions reached $54–82/MWh in 2025 — already below new gas generation in most markets. IRENA projects this falling below $50/MWh by 2035.

A data point that illustrates the integration: in March 2026, battery systems supplied more than 40% of California’s evening electricity demand during a period of high renewable generation. That is not a pilot program result. It is the operational reality of a grid with over 17 GW of installed battery capacity.

Global Storage Investment

According to BloombergNEF’s Energy Transition Investment Trends 2026, battery energy storage systems received $24.3 GW of planned U.S. capacity additions in 2026 alone. Globally, storage investment grew proportionally with solar, making it one of the top-three destinations for clean energy capital.

Hydropower and Other Renewables

Hydropower: The Overlooked Anchor

Hydropower at 1,296 GW is the second-largest installed renewable technology globally — but receives a fraction of the media attention of solar and wind. This is partly because its annual additions are modest (18.4 GW in 2025, just 2.7% of total renewable additions) and partly because most prime hydropower sites in developed markets are already exploited.

However, hydropower remains critical for two reasons that statistics articles routinely ignore. First, it provides the majority of renewable electricity generation in many developing economies — its 1,296 GW of capacity operated at higher average capacity factors than solar or wind in 2025, contributing a disproportionate share of actual TWh generated despite lower installed capacity than wind. Second, pumped-storage hydropower — which adds another 160 GW when included — is the world’s dominant form of long-duration energy storage, providing the grid balancing that batteries cannot yet cost-effectively deliver at multi-day scale.

China accounted for 96% of the 18.4 GW hydropower increase in 2025, per IRENA. The IEA’s Renewables 2025 forecast expects pumped-storage additions to accelerate significantly through 2030, driven by its role as grid-scale seasonal storage alongside variable solar and wind.

Bioenergy and Geothermal

Bioenergy added 3.4 GW in 2025 to reach 154 GW total. It contributes approximately 2.3% of new renewable additions but provides a higher-value grid service than capacity figures suggest, because bioenergy plants are largely dispatchable — they generate on demand rather than when the wind blows or the sun shines.

Geothermal added approximately 1 GW in 2025, reaching 16 GW total. The IEA’s Renewables 2025 forecast expects annual geothermal additions to reach a historic high by 2030, tripling the 2024 rate, driven by growth in the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Türkiye, and the Philippines.

Investment and Employment

$2.3 Trillion: Clean Energy Investment Reaches Record High

According to BloombergNEF’s Energy Transition Investment Trends 2026, global investment in the energy transition reached a record $2.3 trillion in 2025 — an 8% increase over 2024. For the second consecutive year, clean energy investment exceeded fossil fuel supply investment, with the gap widening to $102 billion.

Renewable energy (solar, wind, and other clean power) attracted approximately $690 billion of this total. Within renewables, solar commands the largest individual share. Combined solar and storage investment is reshaping capital allocation globally, with emerging market investment in both technologies growing faster than in developed markets.

Investment Category	2025 Total	YoY Change
Total energy transition	$2.3 trillion	+8%
Renewable energy (all technologies)	~$690 billion	Slightly lower YoY
Electrified transport	$893 billion	+21%
Clean energy supply chains	$127 billion	+6%

Source: BloombergNEF Energy Transition Investment Trends 2026.

16.6 Million Renewable Energy Jobs

According to the IRENA/ILO Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2025, the renewable energy sector employed 16.6 million people globally in 2024. Growth slowed to just 2.3% despite record capacity additions — reflecting the growing impact of manufacturing automation and geopolitical disruptions in supply chains.

Technology	Global Jobs (2024)
Solar PV	7.3 million (44%)
Liquid biofuels	2.6 million (16%)
Hydropower	2.3 million (14%)
Wind energy	1.9 million (11%)
Other	~2.5 million (15%)
Total	16.6 million

China alone accounts for 44% of all global renewable energy employment — a concentration that reflects its dominance in both manufacturing and deployment. The United States and India each employ approximately 1.1–1.3 million renewable energy workers.

The 2030 Outlook

The IEA’s Electricity 2026 report projects low-emissions sources — renewables and nuclear combined — reaching 50% of global electricity generation by 2030, up from 42% in 2025. Solar and wind together are forecast to supply 27% of global electricity by 2030, versus 17% in 2025.

The IEA’s Renewables 2025 forecast set a benchmark: over 2025–2030, renewables are expected to meet over 90% of global electricity demand growth. The accelerated scenario — contingent on governments addressing grid integration, permitting, and financing barriers — would see cumulative renewable capacity exceeding 10,400 GW by 2030.

Key 2030 milestones the primary sources project:

• Solar PV becomes the largest single source of global renewable electricity generation, surpassing hydropower (IEA Renewables 2024 Global Overview)
• Wind and solar combined supply 27% of global electricity (IEA Electricity 2026)
• Total renewable share approaches 50% of global electricity (IEA Electricity 2026)
• Battery storage capacity enables firm solar-plus-storage LCOE below $50/MWh in best markets (IRENA)
• Annual geothermal additions triple the 2024 level (IEA Renewables 2025)

Methodology

Data collection: All statistics in this hub are drawn from primary institutional sources: IRENA, IEA (Global Energy Review 2026, Electricity 2026, Renewables 2025), Ember Global Electricity Review 2026, BloombergNEF Energy Transition Investment Trends 2026, and IRENA/ILO Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2025. No secondary compilations or editorial outlets were used as primary sources.

Coverage period: Capacity data covers end-2025 (IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026, released April 2026). Generation data covers full-year 2025 (IEA Global Energy Review 2026, April 2026; Ember Global Electricity Review 2026, May 2026). Investment data covers full-year 2025 (BloombergNEF, January 2026). Employment data covers 2024, the most recent year in the IRENA/ILO Annual Review 2025.

The Axis Intelligence Renewable Technology Momentum Index (RTMI): This composite metric was developed by Axis Intelligence Research Desk in June 2026. It combines three normalized inputs — annual capacity growth rate, absolute generation TWh added, and LCOE trajectory — weighted equally and scored on a 1–10 scale. Battery storage scores above solar on the RTMI because its growth rate (40%) and enabling function exceed solar’s growth rate (27%) when LCOE trajectory is weighted equivalently. The RTMI is a directional analytical tool, not a standardized industry benchmark. Axis Intelligence will refine and publish the full methodology in the Q3 2026 update.

Limitations: Bioenergy and geothermal generation figures for 2025 are partially estimated. Battery storage capacity data excludes UPS systems and behind-the-meter installations below utility scale unless noted. Hydropower figures exclude pure pumped-storage capacity (an additional 160 GW globally). Employment data lags capacity data by approximately 18 months.

Update protocol: Quarterly (March, June, September, December). Major IRENA and IEA data releases trigger off-cycle updates.

About This Dataset

Dataset title: Axis Intelligence Renewable Energy Statistics 2026
Coverage: Global renewable capacity by technology, generation, investment, employment — 2015–2026
Format: CSV (downloadable)
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Issuing organization: Axis Intelligence Research
Primary sources aggregated: IRENA, IEA, Ember, BloombergNEF, IRENA/ILO

Researchers and journalists may freely use and republish this data with attribution. Contact editorial@axis-intelligence.com for raw data tables or do-follow citation upgrades.

Citation Block

APA:
Axis Intelligence Research Desk. (2026, June 3). Renewable Energy Statistics 2026: Global Capacity, Generation & Market Data. Axis Intelligence. https://axis-intelligence.com/renewable-energy-statistics/

MLA:
Axis Intelligence Research Desk. “Renewable Energy Statistics 2026: Global Capacity, Generation & Market Data.” Axis Intelligence, 3 June 2026, axis-intelligence.com/renewable-energy-statistics/.

Chicago:
Axis Intelligence Research Desk. “Renewable Energy Statistics 2026: Global Capacity, Generation & Market Data.” Axis Intelligence, June 3, 2026. https://axis-intelligence.com/renewable-energy-statistics/.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much renewable energy capacity exists in the world in 2026?

By end-2025, total global installed renewable power capacity reached 5,149 GW, after the addition of 692 GW during the year — the largest annual increase ever recorded, per IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026. Solar PV led at 2,392 GW, followed by hydropower (1,296 GW) and wind (1,291 GW).

What percentage of world electricity comes from renewables?

Renewables supplied approximately 33.8% of global electricity generation in 2025 — surpassing coal (33.0%) for the first time in over 100 years, according to Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026. The IEA forecasts this share rising to approximately 37% in 2025 and approaching 50% by 2030.

Which renewable energy source is growing the fastest?

By installed capacity, solar PV is the fastest-growing energy technology in history, adding 510 GW in 2025 alone. By growth rate, battery storage led in 2025 at +40% year-on-year, per the IEA Global Energy Review 2026. The Axis Intelligence RTMI scores storage (9.2) above solar (8.7) when generation impact and cost trajectory are factored in.

How much was invested in renewable energy globally in 2025?

Approximately $690 billion was invested in renewable energy globally in 2025, as part of a record $2.3 trillion in total clean energy transition investment, per BloombergNEF’s Energy Transition Investment Trends 2026. This is the second consecutive year clean energy investment has exceeded fossil fuel supply investment.

How many people work in renewable energy globally?

The renewable energy sector employed 16.6 million people globally in 2024, per the IRENA/ILO Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2025. Solar PV is the largest employer at 7.3 million jobs (44% of the total). China accounts for 44% of all global renewable employment.

Did renewables overtake coal in 2025?

Yes. In 2025, renewables generated approximately 10,730 TWh globally — surpassing coal’s 10,476 TWh for the first time in the modern power system, per Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026. This was confirmed by both IEA and Ember as a structural rather than weather-driven shift.

What is the Axis Intelligence RTMI?

The Renewable Technology Momentum Index (RTMI) is an original metric developed by Axis Intelligence Research Desk in June 2026. It measures transition momentum across renewable technologies by combining annual growth rate, absolute generation impact, and LCOE trajectory. Battery storage (9.2) and solar PV (8.7) score highest in the 2026 index; hydropower (3.1) scores lowest despite the largest installed base.

What is the renewable energy outlook to 2030?

The IEA’s Electricity 2026 forecast projects renewables approaching 50% of global electricity generation by 2030. Solar PV is set to become the largest renewable electricity source globally, surpassing hydropower. Wind capacity is forecast to nearly double to over 2,000 GW. Over 90% of global electricity demand growth through 2030 is expected to be met by renewables, per the IEA Renewables 2025 report.

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Explore Axis Intelligence’s Technology-Level Reports

This hub provides the cross-technology macro picture. For primary-source deep dives by technology, see:

• Solar Energy Statistics 2026 — 2,392 GW, LCOE breakdown, SDEI index, U.S. market in depth
• AI Statistics 2026 — AI energy consumption and its growing intersection with renewable procurement

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Embed This Research

<p>
  Data source: <a href="https://axis-intelligence.com/renewable-energy-statistics/"
  target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renewable Energy Statistics 2026</a> —
  Axis Intelligence Research Desk (CC BY 4.0).
  Includes the Axis Intelligence Renewable Technology Momentum Index (RTMI),
  derived from IRENA, IEA, Ember, and BloombergNEF primary data.
</p>