Solar energy led a record-breaking expansion in global renewable power capacity in 2025, driving renewables to nearly half of total installed capacity worldwide, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

In its 69-page Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026 report, IRENA said renewables reached 49% of global installed power capacity, following the addition of 692 gigawatts (GW) during the year— the largest annual increase on record. 

Solar accounted for the bulk of that growth, contributing 510 GW, or nearly three-quarters of all new renewable capacity. Wind energy followed with 159 GW, reinforcing the dominance of these two technologies in global energy expansion. 

Overall, renewables made up 85.6% of total power capacity additions worldwide in 2025. 

“This impressive, consistent growth reflects the strength of the economic case for the energy transition; the competitiveness and resilience of renewable power have pushed additions to new records almost every year since the turn of the millennium,” IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said.

Despite the surge, deployment remains heavily concentrated. China, the United States, and the European Union together accounted for 79.5% of new renewable capacity, underscoring the uneven distribution of investments globally. 

Asia continued to dominate global renewable expansion, led by large-scale installations in China and India, while Southeast Asia posted steady but comparatively moderate growth.

Within ASEAN, countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia have continued to scale renewable installations, particularly in solar and hydropower, though at a pace still trailing major global markets.

For the Philippines, IRENA data shows total renewable capacity reached 10,436 MW in 2025, up from 9,322 MW in 2024 and 7,970 MW in 2023. 

IRENA said its capacity figures are based on a consolidation of data from national statistical offices, government agencies, regulators, and power companies, supplemented by industry association reports and other publicly available sources.

The agency noted that while most figures are drawn from official submissions, some data points are estimated using multiple datasets to fill gaps, with all capacity values reflecting installed and grid-connected systems as of year-end. 

Hydropower remains a major component of the Philippines’ renewable mix at 3,889 MW, although the country’s growth trajectory increasingly aligns with the global shift toward solar, driven by shorter development timelines and declining costs. 

The global dominance of solar is expected to shape near-term project pipelines across ASEAN, where developers are prioritizing utility-scale and distributed solar to meet demand growth and energy transition targets.

With solar now driving global renewable growth, how can the Philippines and ASEAN accelerate deployment to stay competitive? Join the discussion.

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