The world added 605 GW of new PV capacity in 2025, says IEA

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Latest report from the International Energy Agency says last year's 600 TWh increase in solar PV was the largest-ever electricity generation increase by any source in one year, outside of periods of post-crisis recovery.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Solar generated an additional 600 TWh of electricity in 2025, taking its total generation to around 2,800 TWh, according to the latest report from the <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/tag/international-energy-agency/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">International Energy Agency</a> (IEA).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The agency’s <a href="https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/ade8ff08-3401-4e0b-9b3b-e8f3988d238e/GlobalEnergyReview2026.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Global Energy Review 2026</a> says solar’s total generation in 2025 was more than double its output in 2022, bringing solar’s share of total global electricity generation to over 8%.</span></p>
<p><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-339608 aligncenter" height="317" src="https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-21-at-10.36.52-600x317.png" tabindex="0" width="600" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">IEA adds that the absolute increase of solar PV generation in 2025 is the largest ever observed for any source, excluding years marked by rebounds from global economic shocks </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">such as Covid-19.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Global annual renewable capacity additions reached 800 GW last year, IEA's findings continue, a 16% year-on-year increase and the 23rd consecutive year that renewables set a new expansion record. Solar covered 605 GW of new renewables capacity, with wind making up 159 GW and other renewables accounting for the remaining 33 GW.</span></p>
<p><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-339609 aligncenter" height="303" src="https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-21-at-10.37.52-600x303.png" tabindex="0" width="600" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Headline figures from IEA’s report reveal that overall global energy demand slowed to 1.3% year-on-year, just below the average of the previous decade, with slower economic growth, slow growth in energy-intensive industries in some regions and lower cooling demand all contributing to slower demand growth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Solar met more than 25% of higher demand, which IEA says marks the first time a modern renewable source contributed the largest share of global energy demand growth. Low-emissions sources, comprising solar, wind, nuclear, hydropower and other renewables, contributed nearly 60% of the growth in global demand. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Demand for electricity grew at nearly 3% year-on-year, which IEA’s report says “reaffirms the world has entered the age of electricity.” </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The report explains the increase in electricity demand was driven by a wide range of end uses in building and industry. It adds that while electricity demand for electric vehicles and data centres increased by 38% and 17% respectively, their shares of total electricity growth remained relatively slim.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elsewhere in the report, IEA says battery storage is the fastest growing power technology today, deploying 108 GW of new storage capacity last year for a 40% increase on 2024. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lithium-iron phosphate batteries now account for around 90% of deployments, the report says, up from a market share of well below 50% five years ago.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Around 80% of new battery capacity last year was utility-scale, with the remaining accounted for in commercial and residential behind-the-meter installations. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">IEA’s report also notes that battery storage durations are gradually increasing. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While most projects still cluster around two hours, an increasing number can be deployed for four hours or </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">more, reflecting the growing value of flexibility in systems with rising shares of PV,” it explains.</span></p>