Renewable energy around the world hit a record growth of 15.1% last year, reaching an output of 4,448 gigawatts (GW), according to the new statistical report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)..

According to the report cited by Negócios newspaperThe data shows that most of the increase came from Asia, with China accounting for the largest share. "The G7 and G20 countries accounted for 14.3% and 90.3% of the new capacity in 2024, respectively," the agency said.

However, the results achieved last year are still not enough to reach the global targets for tripling renewable production by 2030. For this to be possible, it will be necessary to ensure annual growth of at least 16.6% by the end of this decade.

"Record growth is creating jobs, reducing energy bills and cleaning our air. Renewable energy is renewing economies," said António Guterres, quoted in the statement. The UN Secretary-General warns, however, that "the shift to clean energy must be faster and fairer" so that all countries can benefit from "cheap and clean renewable energy".

To this end, IRENA agrees that "more needs to be done to reach the target of tripling renewable capacity by 2030". In 2024, it was solar and wind generation that contributed most to the growth of renewables, accounting for 96.6% of all new capacity.

"The continuous growth of renewable energies that we witness every year is evidence that renewable energies are economically viable and easily deployable," considers IRENA's director general, Francesco La Camera, while recalling the imminent deadline until the end of the decade and the importance of renewables for economic competitiveness and energy security.

In solar photovoltaic production, total growth was 451.9 GW, of which 278 GW came from China and 24.5 GW from India. Total hydropower capacity reached 1,283 GW with contributions from China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tanzania and Vietnam, which each added 0.5 GW.

Wind production "decreased slightly" to 1,133 GW of capacity, with China and the United States leading the way. In the field of bioenergy, IRENA is talking about a recovery from 3 GW in 2023 to 4.6 GW last year, mainly thanks to the contribution of China and France.

(Photo DR)