Renewable divide: Growth widening gap between regions

The global shift to renewables is increasingly inevitable, but its massive human and economic benefits are not yet being shared across all countries and regions.

So said the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell weighing in on the latest Renewable Energy Statistics 2025 released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The report indicates that despite renewables capacity growing by more than 15% in 2024, the growth gap is widening across regions.

“To deliver on the global agreement at COP28 to triple renewables by 2030, we need to move much further and faster and make more progress on the key enablers for vulnerable developing countries. The investments required will pay huge dividends – cutting emissions, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting affordable, secure energy for all.”

Looking into Africa, the report shows that the continent generates 24.1% of its electricity from renewables.

It said renewable energy sources accounted for 29.9% of electricity generation globally in 2023, totalling 8,928 terawatt hours (TWh). The remaining 70.1% (20,939 TWh) corresponded to fossil fuels, nuclear energy, pumped storage, and other non-renewables, bringing global electricity generation from all sources to 29,867 TWh in 2023.

Largest increase in renewables, but growth gap is widening amongst regions

The report states that while 2024 marks the largest increase in renewable energy capacity to date, significant disparities exist amongst countries and regions. 

“Asia accounted for the majority of new capacity in 2024 (71.0%), increasing its renewable capacity by 413,2GW, whilst Europe and North America increased their capacities by 71,9GW and 45,5GW, respectively. 

“Other regions saw much smaller increases, with Central America and the Caribbean increasing by 0,4GW, the Middle East by 4,0GW and Africa by 4,7GW.”

The report further states that in 2024, 582GW of renewable capacity was added, representing a 15.1% annual growth rate—an increase of 0,7 percentage points over the 14.4% growth reported in 2023.

“Despite this progress, the growth still falls short of the pace required to achieve the target to triple global installed renewable power capacity to more than 11TW by 2030. Maintaining the growth rate seen in 2024 would yield only 10.3TW of renewables by 2030, falling 0.9TW (7.7%) short of the target.”

IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said the widening regional disparity demonstrates that not everyone is benefiting equally from the transition. 

He said countries and regions that attract substantial investments in renewables are seeing greater energy security, increased industrial activity and new jobs, which fuels broader socioeconomic development.

“Bridging the divide and closing the investment gap between countries and regions is critical. It requires targeted policies, international financing and partnerships that unlock capital and technology where they are needed most. 

“By aligning investment flows with policy frameworks, we can ensure that the green transition becomes a powerful engine for resilience and sustainable economic growth worldwide.”

Cover photo:  pedrosala©123rf