NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – By the end of 2025, global renewable energy capacity reached 5.15 terawatts, marking another year of record-breaking expansion. During 2025, an additional 693 gigawatts of renewable capacity was installed worldwide. The International Renewable Energy Agency has indicated that annual additions now need to average roughly 1,200 GW through 2030. This rate is crucial to achieve the global goal of 11.2 TW of installed renewable power by the end of the decade.
The 2030 target is part of the UAE Consensus reached at COP28 in Dubai, where nearly 200 countries committed to tripling global renewable capacity and doubling the annual improvements in energy efficiency by 2030. The latest evaluation measures progress against these objectives using data from 2025. It was developed with the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye and the Global Renewables Alliance and announced during Climate Week NYC.
Renewable capacity saw growth of over 15.5% in 2025, continuing the rapid expansion trend seen in recent years. The global addition was around 582 GW in 2024 before increasing to 693 GW last year. Earlier assessments suggested that approximately 1,122 GW needed to be added annually from 2025 to 2030. However, the updated figure has risen to about 1,200 GW each year, as the remaining period to reach the goal has shortened.
Grid investment must rise sharply
According to the report, annual investments in electricity networks and system flexibility should reach nearly $1 trillion from 2026 through 2030. In 2025, global spending in these areas was approximately $525 billion. Currently, there are around 2,500 GW of advanced renewable, storage, and large-scale electricity projects waiting for grid connections worldwide. The report highlights transmission, distribution, battery storage, and digital systems as critical infrastructure needed to support increased renewable electricity generation.
Between 2024 and 2025, battery storage costs fell by about 30%, and compared to 2010, they decreased by approximately 95%. Solar projects combined with storage solutions also played a larger role in new power developments. Systems designed for continuous renewable electricity supply accounted for about one-quarter of utility-scale solar projects commissioned globally in 2025. Additionally, IRENA reported that more than 90% of new utility-scale renewable projects last year generated electricity at costs below those of the cheapest new fossil-fuel alternatives.
Progress in energy efficiency remains sluggish
In 2025, global energy intensity improved by roughly 2%, compared to the approximately 4% annual improvement needed under the UAE Consensus pathway. The target aims to double the yearly rate of global energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The assessment emphasizes that increased electrification and the broader adoption of efficient electrical technologies are vital for meeting this goal. It also associates faster efficiency gains with stronger grids, enhanced storage capacity, and more adaptable electricity systems.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for accelerated action on overcoming energy transition barriers and increased investment flows to developing economies. IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera noted that while renewable deployment advanced, grid infrastructure and energy efficiency efforts lagged behind necessary levels. The benchmark for global capacity remains set at 11.2 TW by 2030. With 693 GW added in 2025, last year’s growth was still 507 GW below the annual addition now needed to meet the target by the end of the decade.