Fastest Renewable Energy Growth Ever

A new global report finds renewable electricity generation grew 9.8% in 2024, the fastest pace on record, while non-renewable generation rose just 1.4%. Renewables now make up 31.7% of the world's electricity, driven largely by solar and wind. Asia led growth in absolute terms, and the Middle East posted the fastest regional growth rate at 17.3%.

The report also points to a steep climb ahead. Turkey, which will host the next major UN climate conference, has set a goal of getting 35% of the world's total energy demand (not just electricity) from clean sources by 2035. Meeting that would mean renewables jumping from today's 31.7% share of electricity generation to about 78% within a decade, roughly 2.5 times current levels. Separately, the pace of new renewable capacity being built also hit a record in 2025, with renewables now accounting for just under half of all installed electricity-generating capacity worldwide.

None of this changes any specific program, rebate, or deadline for homeowners. It is a snapshot of where the broader energy system is headed: toward more solar and wind on the grid, and toward electricity playing a bigger role in heating, transportation, and industry generally. For a homeowner weighing an upgrade like a heat pump or rooftop solar, the trend suggests the electricity you'd be relying on is getting cleaner over time, though how fast that happens where you live still depends on your own state's utilities and policies.