According to a press release from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the renewable energy sector added 176 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity globally in 2019, marginally lower than the revised 179 GW added in 2018. However, new renewable power accounted for 72% of all power expansion last year, according to new data released by IRENA.
According to its Renewable Capacity Statistics 2020, renewables expanded by 7.6% last year. Although expansion slowed slightly, total renewable power growth outpaced fossil fuel growth by a factor of 2.6. Solar and wind combined contributed 90% of total renewable capacity added in 2019.
While most of the growth was in Asia, which accounted for 54% of total additions, the U.S. accounted for the second largest total growth in wind energy in 2019, for a total of 9 GW. Globally, wind and solar now generate close to half of global renewable capacity.
To learn more about the organization's findings, read the original release from IRENA.