Marine energy remains one of the least utilized renewable power sources globally, with total installed capacity showing a slight decline over the past decade to reach 490 megawatts by the end of 2025. This specialized technology is concentrated almost entirely in Asia and Europe, which together account for more than 99% of the world’s total marine power generation, according to the authors of the newly released report.
Data from the report indicates that global marine energy capacity stood at “524” megawatts in 2016 before falling to “490” megawatts in 2025. The statistics highlight the limited geographic spread of the technology, noting that “Asia” and “Europe” held 260 megawatts and 227 megawatts of capacity respectively at the end of the 2025 calendar year.
These figures show that using the ocean’s tides and waves to create electricity is still a very small-scale endeavor compared to other green energy sources like solar or wind. In fact, the total amount of marine power across the entire planet is less than what a single medium-sized traditional power plant might produce. While countries like South Korea, China, and France are the main players in this field, most of the world—including North and South America, Africa, and Australia—currently has little to no functioning marine energy infrastructure.
The report “Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026” was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi. Released in 2026, the comprehensive statistical review was prepared by a dedicated team of authors including Julian Prime, Iman Abdulkadir Ahmed, and Dennis Akande. It provides a detailed global accounting of green energy deployment and capacity trends through the end of 2025.
