The report found, writes NIRMAL MENON that solar energy registered the largest share at 1,419 GW last year, recording 32.2 percent over 2022. Hydropower and wind energy accounted for most of the remainder, with total capacities of 1,268 GW and 1,017 GW, respectively.
Global renewable power capacity in 2023 increased 13.92 percent to 3,870 GW compared to 3,397 GW, revealed the International Renewable Energy Agency in its latest report.
According to the report released on Tuesday, solar and wind energy continued to dominate renewable capacity expansion, jointly accounting for 97.6 percent of all net renewable additions last year.
The report found that solar energy registered the largest share at 1,419 GW last year, recording 32.2 percent over 2022.
Hydropower and wind energy accounted for most of the remainder, with total capacities of 1,268 GW and 1,017 GW, respectively.
Other renewable capacities included 150 GW of bioenergy, 15 GW of geothermal, and 0.5 GW of marine energy.
“This growth in wind and solar led to the highest annual increase in renewable generating capacity as well as the highest growth on record in percentage terms,” the report said.
Asian dominance
At 1,633.2 GW, Asia held nearly 50 percent of the total global renewable energy share, with China bagging 297.6 GW of clean electricity last year.
Capacity in Europe and North America steadily expanded by 71.2 GW and 34.9 GW, respectively.
The Middle East also recorded its highest expansion, with 5.1 GW of new capacity commissioned in 2023 — a 16.6 percent increase over 2022.
With an increase of 116.0 GW in 2023, wind power growth has seen its most significant increase in the past decade.
China accounted for almost two-thirds of this expansion of 75.9 GW, and capacity in the United States increased by 6.3 GW.
“Most of the remaining capacity expansion occurred in Brazil, India, Canada and a handful of European countries,” the report said.
Offshore wind accounted for about 1.9 percent of total renewable power capacity and 7.1 percent of total wind capacity.
Emerging clean sources
Although worldwide bioenergy capacity declined 31 percent to 4.4 GW last year from 8.4 GW in 2022, it saw a 1.9 GW rise in China and 1 GW growth in Japan.
Geothermal capacity also increased marginally in 2023, with most of this expansion occurring in Indonesia, Kenya and Chile.
The data illustrates a clear commitment to renewable energy worldwide, with Asia leading the charge, holding almost half of the world’s total renewable capacity.
China, in particular, has played a pivotal role, contributing significantly to the growth of wind power, which has seen its most remarkable increase in a decade.
