IRENA report reveals global renewables boom and highlights disparity between regions
- REDAÇÃO H2RADAR
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
The energy transition is advancing at a rapid pace, but not equitably. This is according to a new statistical report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which highlights a robust expansion in global renewable generation capacity between 2015 and 2024—led primarily by Asia, which accounted for over 70% of recent growth. In contrast, regions like Africa continue to make modest progress, revealing a growing geographic divide in the race for a sustainable energy future.
Asymmetrical Progress: Asia Accelerates, Africa Stagnates
According to data compiled by IRENA in its Renewable Energy Statistics 2025 yearbook, the world is experiencing a "renewable boom," with investments and new generation capacity expanding significantly. Renewable generation capacity—measured in megawatts (MW)—has skyrocketed in the last decade, especially in Asian markets such as China, India, and Southeast Asia. This growth has been supported by robust public policies, financial incentives, and the increased competitiveness of solar and wind technologies.
The report, based on data collected from more than 150 countries, reveals that this acceleration, however, is far from uniform. Regions such as Africa and parts of Latin America experience considerably slower growth, reflecting limited financing availability, poor infrastructure, and the absence of stable regulatory frameworks. The analysis of investment in renewable energy between 2014 and 2023, compiled in partnership with the OECD-DAC and multilateral banks, confirms this gap: resources remain concentrated in the most developed or emerging economies with the greatest degree of bankability.
The IRENA report reaffirms, with statistical precision, that the global success of the energy transition will depend not only on innovation and scale, but also on distributive justice. Beyond absolute growth, it will be necessary to ensure that the benefits of clean energy—economic, environmental, and social—are shared across all continents.
