By the end of 2022, total global renewable generation capacity amounted to 3372GW, registering an increase of just under 10%.
During 2022 295GW of new renewable capacity was added globally.
Around 83% of all power capacity added last year was produced by renewables.
Although hydropower accounted for the largest share of the global total renewable generation capacity with 1250GW, solar and wind continued to dominate new generating capacity.
Together, both technologies contributed 90% to the share of all new renewable capacity in 2022.
Solar capacity led with 22% increase, followed by wind energy, which increased its generating capacity by 9%.
Wind energy increased by 75GW in 2022, will solar increased by 191GW in 2022.
Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023, released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), show that renewable energy continues to grow at record levels despite global uncertainties, confirming the downward trend of fossil fuelled power generation.
“This continued record growth shows the resilience of renewable energy amidst the lingering energy crisis,” IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera said.
“The strong business case of renewables coupled with enabling policies has sustained an upward trend of their share in the global energy mix year on year.
“But annual additions of renewable power capacity must grow three times the current level by 2030, if we want to stay on a pathway limiting global warming to 1.5°C.”
While many countries increased their renewable capacity in 2022, the significant growth of renewables is persistently concentrated in a few countries and regions like Asia, the USA and Europe.
IRENA’s data finds that almost half of all new capacity in 2022 was added in Asia, resulting in a total of 1.63TW of renewable capacity by 2022.
China was the biggest contributor, adding 141GW to the continent’s new capacity.
Renewables in Europe and North America grew by 57.3GW and 29.1GW respectively.
Africa continued to expand steadily with an increase of 2.7GW, slightly above last year.
Oceania continued its double-digit growth with an expansion of 5.2GW and South America continued an upward trend, with a capacity expansion of 18.2GW.
The Middle East recorded its highest increase in renewables on record, with 3.2GW of new capacity commissioned in 2022, an increase of 12.8%.