NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – By the end of 2025, worldwide renewable energy capacity reached 5.15 terawatts, marking another record year of expansion. During that period, 693 gigawatts of new renewable capacity were added globally. The International Renewable Energy Agency emphasized that annual additions must now average approximately 1,200 GW through 2030 to meet the global goal of 11.2 TW of installed renewable energy by decade’s end.
This target was part of the UAE Consensus reached at COP28 in Dubai, where nearly 200 nations committed to tripling worldwide renewable capacity and doubling annual energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The latest report, based on 2025 data, assesses progress against these goals, with the cooperation of Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency and the Global Renewables Alliance. It was unveiled during Climate Week NYC.
Renewable capacity grew over 15.5% in 2025, continuing a pattern of rapid recent growth. In 2024, global additions were about 582 GW, increasing to 693 GW in 2025. Previously, estimates indicated that about 1,122 GW of new capacity needed to be added yearly from 2025 to 2030; however, the revised figure has increased to roughly 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 grid infrastructure and system flexibility will require nearly $1 trillion in annual investments from 2026 through 2030. In 2025, global spending on these systems was around $525 billion. Currently, approximately 2,500 GW of advanced renewable, storage, and large-scale electricity projects are waiting for grid connections worldwide. The report underscores the importance of transmission, distribution, battery storage, and digital systems to support higher renewable electricity deployment.
Battery storage costs fell roughly 30% between 2024 and 2025 and are down about 95% compared to 2010 levels. Solar projects paired with storage played an increasing role in new power capacity. In 2025, around 25% of utility-scale solar installations worldwide included systems designed for continuous renewable electricity. IRENA also reported that more than 90% of new utility-scale renewable projects commissioned last year generated electricity below the cost of the cheapest new fossil-fuel options.
Progress in Energy Efficiency Continues to Lag
In 2025, global energy intensity improved by approximately 2%, falling short of the 4% annual improvement needed to meet the UAE Consensus pathway. The goal aims to double the current rate of global energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The assessment highlights increased electrification and broader use of efficient electrical technologies as vital to achieving this, along with stronger grids, additional storage, and more adaptable electricity systems.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for accelerated efforts to overcome energy transition bottlenecks and to boost investments in developing economies. IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera noted that while renewable deployment advanced, grid infrastructure and energy efficiency efforts lagged behind. The global capacity target remains at 11.2 TW by 2030. With 693 GW added in 2025, last year’s expansion was still 507 GW below the required annual addition to stay on track for the end of the decade.