Solar Breaks Record: 511 GW Added in Single Year

Renewable energy just claimed half the world's power capacity, and the speed at which we got here is stunning.

A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows that 692 gigawatts of renewable capacity was added globally in 2025, pushing total renewable infrastructure to 5.14 terawatts. That's 49% of all power capacity on Earth—a number that seemed like distant science fiction when many of today's climate goals were first written.

The solar story alone is remarkable. Of the 692 GW added last year, 511 GW came from solar panels—roughly three-quarters of all new renewable capacity. That smashed the previous record of 585 GW set just one year earlier, jumping 18.3% in twelve months.

Wind contributed another 159 GW. Together, solar and wind accounted for nearly every watt of new renewable capacity added worldwide.

The reason is simple: they're now the cheapest options available. Solar has become so affordable and easy to build that the question is no longer whether to choose it, but how fast we can deploy it.

Asia led the charge, accounting for 74% of all new renewable capacity in 2025. But the growth is spreading. Africa recorded its highest-ever annual increase at 11.3 GW, driven by Ethiopia, South Africa, and Egypt. The Middle East grew by nearly 29% year over year, with Saudi Arabia leading the expansion—notable for a country synonymous with oil production.

Even smaller regions are joining in. Central America and the Caribbean added 2 GW, a modest number that still represents real momentum in markets traditionally dependent on imported fossil fuels.

The Bright Side

Here's what makes this moment genuinely hopeful: we're not just talking about pilot projects or experimental technology anymore. Solar capacity worldwide now stands at approximately 2.4 terawatts—infrastructure that will shape energy production for decades to come.

The cheapest form of new electricity is also clean, and countries investing in renewables are weathering global volatility with less economic pain. When oil prices swing or geopolitical tensions flare, homegrown solar and wind keep running at predictable costs.

Renewables made up 85.6% of all new power capacity in 2025, meaning that for every dollar spent expanding the grid, the overwhelming majority went to clean energy. The infrastructure being built today is the infrastructure our children will inherit, and it's increasingly powered by sun and wind.

Total renewable capacity has grown so fast that what once seemed like ambitious targets for 2030 are now happening years ahead of schedule. The modern energy system is being rebuilt in real time, one solar panel and wind turbine at a time, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing.

Half the world's power capacity is now renewable—a milestone worth celebrating and a foundation to build on.