LISBON, May 6 (Reuters) - EDP Renewables EDPR.LS, the world's fourth-largest wind energy producer, said on Wednesday that its first-quarter recurring net profit rose 9%, driven by higher production and cost cuts, beating analysts' forecasts.

The renewables arm of Portugal's EDP EDP.LS reported recurring net profit of 71 million euros ($83 million). The average forecast of analysts polled by LSEG was 52.5 million euros.

Overall revenues, excluding foreign exchange effects, remained flat at 591 million euros, despite lower European electricity prices, on the back of a 3% increase in power production to 11,300 gigawatt-hours, with North America accounting for 59% of output and Europe 29%, it said.

Recurring core operating expenses declined 11% from a year earlier to 170 million euros in the quarter, showing "continued efficiency improvements", it said in a statement.

Recurring consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation rose 2% year-on-year to 489 million euros, slightly exceeding analysts' consensus of 486 million euros.

EDPR, which operates in 28 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas, said installed capacity rose by 2 gigawatts over the past 12 months, with more than half of the increase in North America, bringing total capacity to 20.5 GW.

As of March, capacity already under construction across new wind and solar farms and battery energy storage systems stood at 1.9 GW, "supporting deployment scheduled for 2026 and beyond", it said.

It said net debt increased by 319 million euros or 4% to 8.43 billion euros.

($1 = 0.8548 euros)