NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – By the end of 2025, global renewable power capacity reached 5.15 terawatts following another year marked by record expansion. During this period, an additional 693 gigawatts of renewable capacity were added worldwide. The International Renewable Energy Agency emphasized that annual additions must now average roughly 1,200 GW through 2030. Achieving this rate is essential to meet the global goal of 11.2 TW of installed renewable energy capacity by the decade’s end.
This objective is part of the UAE Consensus endorsed at COP28 in Dubai. Nearly 200 nations backed efforts to triple global renewable capacity and double the annual improvement rate of energy efficiency by 2030. The recent assessment evaluates progress toward both targets using data from 2025. It was developed in collaboration with the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye and the Global Renewables Alliance, and was unveiled during Climate Week NYC.
In 2025, renewable capacity grew by over 15.5%, continuing the swift expansion seen in recent years. Global additions had stood at about 582 GW in 2024 before increasing to 693 GW last year. An earlier assessment projected that around 1,122 GW would need to be added each year from 2025 to 2030. The updated figure has risen to approximately 1,200 GW annually, as the remaining timeframe to meet the target has shortened.
Significant Increase in Grid Investment Needed
The assessment indicates that electricity networks and system flexibility will require nearly $1 trillion annually from 2026 through 2030. In 2025, global expenditure in these areas reached about $525 billion. Additionally, around 2,500 GW of advanced renewable, storage, and large-scale electricity projects are awaiting grid connections worldwide. The report highlights transmission, distribution, battery storage, and digital infrastructure as critical components necessary to support higher renewable electricity levels.
Between 2024 and 2025, battery storage costs decreased by approximately 30%, and they have fallen about 95% since 2010. Solar projects combined with storage are playing an increasingly important role in new power developments. Systems designed to deliver continuous renewable electricity accounted for roughly 25% of utility-scale solar installations globally in 2025. Furthermore, IRENA noted that over 90% of new utility-scale renewable projects commissioned last year generated electricity at costs below the cheapest new fossil fuel alternatives.
Slower Progress in Energy Efficiency Gains
In 2025, the global energy intensity improved by approximately 2%, falling short of the roughly 4% annual improvement needed under the UAE Consensus pathway. The target aims to double the typical yearly rate of global energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The assessment highlights greater electrification and broader adoption of efficient electrical technologies as key factors in reaching this goal. It also links faster efficiency improvements with stronger grids, increased storage, and more adaptable electricity systems.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged for expedited action to overcome energy transition bottlenecks and for increased investment flows to developing economies. IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera stated that while renewable deployment has progressed, grid development and energy efficiency remain below the necessary levels. The global capacity goal remains at 11.2 TW by 2030. With 693 GW added in 2025, last year’s expansion was still 507 GW below the average annual addition now required to meet the target before 2030.