Global renewable capacity set for record growth

November 13, 2025 (MLN):  The world is set to add renewable energy capacity at a record pace again in 2025, putting the goal of tripling global renewables by 2030 closer than ever, according to a new report by the independent energy think tank Ember.

Ember projects total renewable additions to reach 793 gigawatts (GW) this year an 11% increase from 2024 driven largely by solar power and China’s dominant role in global deployment, APP reported.

 The analysis of solar and wind installations through September shows another year of historic growth, with solar capacity rising 9% and wind up 21%, continuing a streak of rapid expansion since 2022.

China alone is expected to account for two-thirds of all new global solar and wind capacity, as developers rushed to complete projects before new compensation rules took effect in mid-2025.

Annual solar additions in 2025 are projected to be four times higher than in 2021, while wind installations have increased by half over the same period.

At the 2023 UN Climate Conference (COP28), more than 130 governments pledged to triple global renewable capacity to at least 11 terawatts (TW) by 2030 to help limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Since then, global additions have exceeded expectations, averaging 29% annual growth between 2023 and 2025, well above the 21% per year initially required to stay on track.

As a result, annual additions now only need to rise by 12% a year from 2026 to 2030 to meet the tripling target. However, Ember cautions that sustaining this pace is uncertain.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a potential slowdown due to policy changes in key markets like the U.S. and China. In its main scenario, total capacity would reach 9,530 GW by 2030 about 15% short of the goal.

The shortfall would be even larger in terms of power generation (around 28%) because most of the gap lies in wind and hydropower, which generate more electricity per unit of capacity than solar.

Despite strong market growth, national renewable targets have not kept pace. Ember finds that collective 2030 goals have risen only 8% since COP28, totaling 7,793 GW, which would merely double 2022 levels not triple them.

Most of the increase came from China’s updated 2025 climate targets, adding around 779 GW, while U.S. ambitions declined due to political shifts and the rollback of clean-energy incentives.

The world’s combined solar targets total 3,110 GW by 2030, only about half of what’s needed to meet the tripling goal. Wind targets are closer but still fall short by over 500 GW.

Ember concludes that tripling renewables by 2030 remains achievable, but only if governments act decisively updating national targets and strengthening policies to support investment in grids, storage, and system flexibility.

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