NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – At the close of 2025, global renewable power capacity reached 5.15 terawatts following a year marked by significant expansion. In 2025 alone, an additional 693 gigawatts of renewable capacity was added worldwide. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the annual capacity additions now need to average about 1,200 GW through 2030. Achieving this rate is crucial to meet the global target of installing 11.2 TW of renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade.
This goal is part of the UAE Consensus reached during COP28 in Dubai, where nearly 200 nations committed to tripling global renewable capacity and doubling the yearly improvements in energy efficiency by 2030. The latest report evaluates progress against these objectives using 2025 data. It was developed with the cooperation of the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye and the Global Renewables Alliance, and was unveiled during Climate Week NYC.
Renewable energy capacity grew by over 15.5% in 2025, continuing a trend of rapid growth seen in recent years. Global additions reached approximately 582 GW in 2024 and increased further to 693 GW in 2025. An earlier assessment indicated that about 1,122 GW should be added annually from 2025 to 2030. With the new data, this annual addition target has risen to roughly 1,200 GW, as the window for reaching the goal narrows.
Substantial investment in grid infrastructure is essential
To support the energy transition, annual investments in electricity networks and system flexibility are projected to need nearly $1 trillion from 2026 through 2030, the report states. In 2025, global spending in these sectors was around $525 billion. There are also about 2,500 GW of advanced renewable, storage, and large-scale electricity projects awaiting grid connections across the globe. The report emphasizes that expanding transmission, distribution, battery storage, and digital systems is vital infrastructure to accommodate higher levels of renewable electricity generation.
Between 2024 and 2025, the cost of battery storage decreased approximately 30%, and it has fallen about 95% since 2010. Systems combining solar power with storage gained increased significance in new energy projects. In 2025, about one-quarter of utility-scale solar installations worldwide were designed to provide continuous renewable electricity. Furthermore, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the need for more accelerated action on energy transition challenges and stronger investments in developing economies. The International Renewable Energy Agency’s Director-General, Francesco La Camera, noted progress in renewable deployment but emphasized that grid development and energy efficiency still lag behind the required pace. The overall capacity goal remains at 11.2 TW by 2030. Last year’s expansion of 693 GW is still 507 GW short of the annual addition now necessary to meet the decade-end target.