Renewable energy reaches one-third of global power capacity at end-2018

Renewable capacity expansion continues to be driven mostly by new installations of solar and wind energy, which accounted for 84% of all new capacity installed in 2018, finally pushing the overall share of hydro to just under 50%. For the first time total renewable energy generation capacity reached a third of total installed electricity capacity, or 2,351 GW, at the end of last year. According to Renewable Capacity Statistics 2019, released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), hydropower accounts for the largest share with an installed capacity of 1,172 GW, wind and solar energy account for most of the remainder with capacities of 564 GW and 480 GW respectively.