NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – By the end of 2025, global renewable energy capacity reached 5.15 terawatts, following another record-breaking year of growth. During this period, an additional 693 gigawatts of renewable capacity was installed worldwide. The International Renewable Energy Agency emphasized that annual increases need to reach around 1,200 GW through 2030. Achieving this pace is essential to meet the global target of 11.2 TW of installed renewable power by the end of the decade.
This objective is part of the UAE Consensus adopted at COP28 in Dubai. Nearly 200 nations backed efforts to triple the worldwide renewable capacity and to double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The latest evaluation, based on 2025 data, measures progress toward both goals. It was developed with the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye and the Global Renewables Alliance, and was unveiled during Climate Week NYC.
Renewable capacity saw a growth rate of over 15.5% in 2025, continuing the rapid expansion seen in recent years. Global additions increased from approximately 582 GW in 2024 to 693 GW in 2025. The previous forecast indicated that around 1,122 GW must be added each year from 2025 to 2030. However, with the shorter remaining timeframe, the new target has been revised upward to roughly 1,200 GW annually.
Significant boost required in grid infrastructure investments
The assessment highlights that annual investment in electricity networks and system flexibility should approach $1 trillion from 2026 to 2030. In 2025, global spending in these areas was approximately $525 billion. Around 2,500 GW of advanced renewable projects, energy storage, and large-scale electricity initiatives are pending grid connections worldwide. Critical infrastructure components such as transmission, distribution, battery storage, and digital systems are identified as vital to supporting higher renewable electricity levels.
Between 2024 and 2025, battery storage costs declined by roughly 30%, and compared to 2010, they have fallen by about 95%. Solar projects integrated with storage also played an increasingly important role in new power development. In 2025, about a quarter of utility-scale solar projects commissioned globally were designed to provide continuous renewable electricity. Additionally, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for accelerated action to address energy transition obstacles and increased investment in developing economies. The report also states that over 90% of new utility-scale renewable projects commissioned last year produced electricity below the cost of the cheapest new fossil-fuel alternative.
Progress on energy efficiency remains insufficient
In 2025, the global energy intensity improved by about 2%, falling short of the roughly 4% annual improvement needed under the UAE Consensus pathway. The goal calls for doubling the typical yearly rate of energy efficiency enhancement by 2030. The assessment highlights that increased electrification, along with wider use of efficient electrical technologies, are key to reaching this target. It also links faster efficiency improvements with stronger grids, additional storage, and more adaptable electricity systems.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for expedited action to address bottlenecks in the energy transition and for stronger investment flows to emerging economies. According to Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, renewable deployment has progressed, yet grid development and energy efficiency remain below the necessary levels. The global capacity target remains at 11.2 TW by 2030, with 693 GW added in 2025, leaving last year’s expansion 507 GW short of the required annual addition to meet the end-of-decade goal.