New York:Global renewable energy deployment reached a record level in 2025, but must accelerate significantly to achieve the target of tripling capacity by 2030, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
According to Emirates News Agency, the report was released in collaboration with the COP31 Presidency of T¼rkiye and the Global Renewables Alliance during Climate Week NYC. It noted that global installed renewable power capacity reached 5.15 terawatts (TW) by the end of 2025. Despite a record addition of 693 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity during the year, average annual additions need to increase to 1,200 GW between 2026 and 2030 to meet the globally agreed target of 11.2 TW.
The report, titled 'Delivering on the UAE Consensus: Tracking Progress Toward Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030', is the third evaluation of progress towards the energy targets set at COP28. It highlighted that global energy intensity improved by around 2 percent in 2025, which is below the 4 percent annual improvement required to meet the UAE Consensus energy-efficiency goal.
The report emphasized the need for bolder action regarding investment, electricity grids, and electrification ahead of COP31 in Antalya, T¼rkiye. It called for annual investment in grids and flexibility to rise to nearly US$1 trillion between 2026 and 2030, more than double the levels in 2025. It also stressed the necessity for rapid expansion of battery storage, efficient electrical technologies, and system flexibility.
The document also advocated for broader deployment of around-the-clock renewable energy systems that combine solar, wind, and storage. It recommended increased use of digitalization and artificial intelligence to align rising electricity demand with clean power supply.
United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres remarked that renewable energy records are being broken annually as the clean energy revolution gains momentum. He urged for faster removal of bottlenecks hindering the transition, more investment in developing countries, and a reduction in dependence on volatile fossil fuels.
Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, stated that while renewables could still meet the 2030 target, energy efficiency is lagging. He noted that electricity demand is rising faster than anticipated, and grid infrastructure is not keeping pace with renewable deployment. IRENA's revised roadmap highlights the need to accelerate electrification and rapidly scale up and modernize renewable generation, grids, storage, and flexibility.
Chris Bowen, Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy and President of Negotiations for COP31, emphasized the importance of supporting investment in electrification, including modern grids and storage, to ensure clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. He stated that Australia is working closely with T¼rkiye to prioritize electrification in the COP31 agenda.
The report projects that by 2030, variable renewables like solar and wind will surpass total fossil-fuel generation capacity and make up around 62 percent of global installed power capacity, compared to 35 percent in 2025. Battery storage costs decreased by 30 percent between 2024 and 2025 and by 95 percent since 2010, reinforcing storage's role in reliable renewable-based electricity systems. Around-the-clock renewable systems that combine solar generation and storage accounted for about a quarter of utility-scale solar commissioned globally in 2025.
The report concluded that increased electrification is crucial for achieving the UAE Consensus target of doubling the global rate of energy-efficiency improvement by 2030. Beyond 2030, further acceleration will be necessary to increase electricity's share of global final energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035, a target currently under discussion as part of the COP31 agenda.