World Renewable Energy Rises 15.5 Percent, Record Created as Energy Crisis Looms

JAKARTA - The world's renewable energy capacity jumped in 2025. Citing a report from Anadolu Agency which refers to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Wednesday, April 1, the global renewable energy capacity reached 5,149 gigawatt (GW), up 692 GW in a year or grew 15.5 percent. The figure is a new record.

The surge comes as the issue of energy security is strengthening again. According to AA's report, geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, have triggered new concerns over supply security and fossil energy price volatility. In this situation, renewable energy is increasingly seen as a support for an energy system that is more resistant to external shocks.

In the Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026 report released Wednesday, IRENA said renewable energy accounted for 85.6 percent of the total global expansion of electricity capacity last year. Meanwhile, the addition from non-renewable energy sources is much smaller.

IRENA Director General Francesco La Camera, as quoted by AA, said that renewable energy expansion remained consistent amid uncertain global situations. According to La Camera, countries that invest first in the energy transition tend to face crises with lighter economic pressures, while strengthening energy resilience, resilience, and competitiveness.

As in previous years, solar energy was the main driver. IRENA noted that this sector added 511 GW or 73.8 percent of the total increase in renewable energy capacity. Wind energy followed with an additional 159 GW. The combination of the two accounted for 96.8 percent of all net renewable energy additions in 2025.

Bioenergy is next in line. This sector grew by 2.3 percent with an additional 3.4 GW. However, this growth is not even. AA reported that Asia still dominates with a contribution of 74.2 percent of the world's total new renewable energy capacity. This region added 513.3 GW, or grew by 21.6 percent. Of the total global capacity, Asia remains in the top position with 2,891 GW, followed by Europe 934 GW.

Africa recorded the highest capacity increase in its history, up 15.9 percent or increased by 11.3 GW, supported by Ethiopia, South Africa, and Egypt. The Middle East also recorded the largest annual growth, 28.9 percent, with Saudi Arabia as the main driver.

On the other hand, Central America and the Caribbean are still the region with the lowest renewable energy capacity, only 21 GW by 2025.

Despite growing rapidly, the world's renewable energy capacity is not evenly distributed. Asia still dominates, while Central America and the Caribbean only recorded 21 GW in 2025.