What the sources establish
- IRENA reported 692 GW of renewable capacity additions in 2025, a 15.5% annual increase.
- Total renewable capacity reached 5,149 GW at year-end.
- Renewables represented 85.6% of total power-capacity expansion.
How to read the bigger picture
Accelerating deployment is substantial progress, but capacity does not measure generation, reliability, or access. The geographic distribution and supporting grid investment determine how that progress reaches households and industry.
What we should keep in view
- Capacity additions are not electricity actually generated.
- Figures describe 2025, not measured full-year 2026 results.
- Later statistical editions may revise earlier totals.
What would change the picture?
- Track generation and grid expansion alongside capacity.
- Compare deployment across regions and income groups.
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