<div id="readability-page-1"><figure><img width="1200" height="676" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/Dongfang-Electric.jpg/query-cXVhbGl0eT04MiZzdHJpcD1hbGwmdz0xMjAw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/Dongfang-Electric.jpg/query-cXVhbGl0eT04MiZzdHJpcD1hbGwmdz0xMjAw"/><figcaption>Photo: Dongfang Electric Corporation</figcaption></figure><p>The world just added a record amount of wind and solar in 2025, and it’s not even close.</p><span id="more-460384"></span><p>New data from global energy think tank Ember shows that 814 gigawatts (GW) of new solar and wind capacity came online last year, up 17% from 2024’s 696 GW. That brings total global wind and solar capacity to 4,174 GW – or just over 4 terawatts.</p><p>That’s a massive buildout of the two fastest-growing sources of electricity in history, and solar is doing most of the heavy lifting.</p><figure><img height="686" width="1024" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Wind-and-solar-record-capacity-additions-2025@2x.jpg/query-cXVhbGl0eT04MiZzdHJpcD1hbGwmdz0xMDI0?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Wind-and-solar-record-capacity-additions-2025@2x.jpg/query-cXVhbGl0eT04MiZzdHJpcD1hbGwmdz0xMDI0"/></figure><h2 id="h-solar-keeps-pulling-ahead">Solar keeps pulling ahead</h2><p>Solar made up the bulk of new additions in 2025. Globally, nearly 4 GW of solar was installed for every 1 GW of wind.</p></div>

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<p>In 2025, the world added a record 814 GW of wind and solar capacity, a 17% increase from 2024's 696 GW, according to Ember. This brings total global capacity to 4,174 GW. Solar energy dominated the additions, with nearly 4 GW of solar installed for every 1 GW of wind, highlighting its role as the fastest-growing electricity source.</p>

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The world added a record 814 GW of wind + solar – reshaping energy fast