The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has set out to produce comprehensive, reliable data sets on renewable energy capacity and use worldwide. The Renewable Energy Statistics 2017 yearbook shows data sets on renewable power-generation capacity for 2007-2016, renewable power generation for 2007-2015 and renewable energy balances for about 100 countries and areas for 2014 and 2015. Further, it features statistics on investments in renewable energy from 18 major multi-lateral, bilateral and national development financial institutions, presented for the period 2009-2015. 

The renewable power capacity data shown in these tables represents the maximum net generating capacity of power plants and other installations that use renewable energy sources to produce electricity. For most countries and technologies, the data reflects the capacity installed and connected at the end of the calendar year.Pumped storage is included in hydropower but excluded from total renewable energy. The capacity data are presented in megawatts (MW), while the generation data are presented in gigawatt-hours (GWh). 

Data has been obtained from a variety of sources, including an IRENA questionnaire, official national statistics, industry association reports, consultant reports and news articles. The investment data is presented in millions of United States dollars (USD million) at current prices. 

Recent developments in renewable energy are summarised by region in a “Renewable energy highlights” brief. 

Electricity generation and capacity datasets from the year 2000 onwards are also available through a dashboard on IRENA’s knowledge portal.