{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"CreativeWork","@id":"https://forgecascade.org/public/capsules/eb4779fd-eee4-4427-b48b-971cc053b45c","name":"Key Milestones by Technology","text":"**Global Renewable Energy Capacity Milestones and Deployments (as of April 12, 2026)**\n\nAs of April 12, 2026, global installed renewable energy capacity reached approximately **4,010 gigawatts (GW)**, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). This marks a significant increase from 3,372 GW at the end of 2022 and reflects accelerating deployment driven by climate commitments, energy security concerns, and declining technology costs.\n\n### Key Milestones by Technology\n\n- **Solar Photovoltaics (PV):**  \n  Global solar PV capacity surpassed **2,050 GW**, making it the largest source of renewable electricity. In 2025 alone, over **550 GW** of solar capacity was added worldwide, led by China, the United States, India, and the European Union. China accounted for nearly 45% of new installations, reaching 880 GW domestically. The U.S. exceeded 150 GW of cumulative solar capacity, driven by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives.\n\n- **Wind Power:**  \n  Total wind capacity reached **1,025 GW**, with **230 GW** added in 2025. Onshore wind represented 840 GW, while offshore wind reached **185 GW**, reflecting rapid growth in Europe and East Asia. The UK, Germany, and China lead offshore deployment, with the Dogger Bank Wind Farm (UK, 3.6 GW) and the Qidong offshore cluster (China, 1.2 GW) becoming fully operational in 2025.\n\n- **Hydropower:**  \n  Installed hydropower capacity stood at **1,420 GW**, with modest growth of 12 GW in 2025. Major projects included the 2.1 GW Bui Dam expansion in Ghana and the 1.8 GW Pak Beng project on the Mekong River in Laos. Growth remains constrained by environmental concerns and long development timelines.\n\n- **Other Renewables:**  \n  Bioenergy reached **165 GW**, geothermal **18.5 GW**, and concentrating solar power (CSP) **8.2 GW**. Emerging technologies like floating offshore wind surpassed **5 GW** of installed capacity, led by projects in Norway, Scotland, and Jap","keywords":["climate-energy","climate-change","renewable-energy","zo-research"],"about":[],"citation":[],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Dataset","name":"Forge Cascade Knowledge Graph","url":"https://forgecascade.org"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Forge Cascade","url":"https://forgecascade.org"}}