NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – By the end of 2025, the global renewable power capacity reached 5.15 terawatts, marking another record-breaking year of growth, with an addition of 693 gigawatts during that period. The International Renewable Energy Agency emphasizes that annual increases must now average roughly 1,200 GW through 2030 in order to meet the international target of 11.2 TW of installed renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade.
This objective is part of the UAE Consensus established at COP28 in Dubai, where nearly 200 countries endorsed efforts to triple the global renewable capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The latest evaluation, using data from 2025, measures progress towards both goals and was prepared in collaboration with the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye and the Global Renewables Alliance, being unveiled during Climate Week NYC.
Renewable energy capacity saw an increase of over 15.5% in 2025, continuing the rapid expansion observed over recent years. After reaching approximately 582 GW in 2024, global capacity expanded further to 693 GW last year. An earlier assessment projected that about 1,122 GW needed to be added annually from 2025 through 2030; however, as the remaining timeframe shortens, the updated annual requirement has risen to approximately 1,200 GW to stay on track for the target.
Significant Boost in Grid Investment Needed
The assessment indicates that investments approaching $1 trillion annually in electricity networks and system flexibility are essential from 2026 to 2030, with global spending on these sectors totaling around $525 billion in 2025. Additionally, roughly 2,500 GW of advanced renewable projects, storage facilities, and large-scale electricity infrastructure are awaiting grid connections worldwide. The report identifies transmission lines, distribution systems, battery storage, and digital infrastructure as critical components to support increased renewable electricity deployment.
Between 2024 and 2025, the cost of battery storage decreased by about 30%, representing a roughly 95% reduction compared with 2010 prices. Solar projects integrated with storage also played an increasingly vital role in new power developments, with systems designed for continuous renewable electricity supply accounting for approximately one-quarter of utility-scale solar installations worldwide in 2025. Moreover, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for accelerated action on overcoming energy transition obstacles and increased investment flows to developing economies, as more than 90% of new utility-scale renewable projects commissioned last year produced electricity at costs lower than the cheapest new fossil-fuel alternatives.
Progress in Energy Efficiency Remains Limited
In 2025, global energy intensity improved by approximately 2%, which is below the roughly 4% annual improvement called for under the UAE Consensus pathway. The goal aims to double the average yearly rate of global energy efficiency improvements by 2030, primarily through increased electrification and wider adoption of efficient electrical technologies. The assessment links faster efficiency gains to stronger grids, enhanced storage capabilities, and more adaptable electricity systems.
Furthermore, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for swifter action to address bottlenecks in the energy transition and to bolster investment flows into developing economies. Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, pointed out that although renewable deployment has made advances, grid development and energy efficiency improvements continue to lag behind the necessary levels. The global capacity goal remains set at 11.2 TW by 2030, but with 693 GW added in 2025, last year’s growth still falls short by 507 GW compared to the annual addition needed to meet the target within the remaining timeframe.