Renewables hit record in 2025, but world must move faster: report

In 2025, global renewable power capacity hit a record high, growing by a staggering 693 gigawatts (GW). This significant expansion helped save nearly US$500 billion in fossil fuel costs, according to a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report, published as world leaders convened for the United Nations General Assembly following a scorching northern hemisphere summer, highlighted the growing importance of market forces in driving the transition to clean energy.

IRENA's findings showed that 693 GW of new renewable energy was added in 2025, representing more than half of the entire installed capacity of the United States. However, to meet the ambitious target of tripling renewable energy by 2030, the world needs to more than double current levels, which currently stand at 5.15 terawatts (TW). If the 2025 growth rate continues, the world would reach 10.6 TW by 2030, falling short of the 11.2 TW goal by about 0.6 TW.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasized the importance of these milestones, stating that humanity avoided almost half a trillion US dollars in fossil fuel costs thanks to global renewables. Stiell noted that the shift to clean energy is now irreversible, but the report also revealed that the world is falling short of the goal of doubling energy efficiency improvement rates by 2030.

David Waskow, director of the international climate initiative at the World Resources Institute, cautioned that while renewables are becoming increasingly cost-competitive, they are not yet displacing enough fossil fuel use as global energy demand rises. He pointed out that rising demand for cooling, artificial intelligence, and data centers are the primary drivers of increasing energy demand.

Waskow urged the need for accelerating progress on renewables, electrification, and reducing fossil fuel consumption to meet the growing energy demands of a warming world.