The world is on a mission to combat climate change, and renewable energy is leading the charge. According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global renewable energy capacity is set to skyrocket between 2025 and 2030, with an expected 4,600 gigawatts of clean power installations. This is a staggering increase, almost doubling the amount built over the previous five-year period, and more than doubling the amount built before that. The growth has been exponential, and solar energy is the driving force behind this renewable energy revolution.
Solar power is set to dominate the renewable energy landscape, accounting for over three-quarters of the expected increase in renewables between 2025 and 2030. This surge in solar installations is attributed to low equipment costs, efficient permitting rules, and widespread social acceptance of the technology. The solar boom will be evenly distributed between utility-scale projects and smaller, distributed projects, with large-scale installations accounting for just over 2 terawatts, compared to 1.5 terawatts for distributed projects.
China is at the forefront of solar energy adoption, but it's a global phenomenon. At least 29 countries now derive over 10% of their electricity from clean energy sources, according to a report by the think tank Ember. While solar is the star of the show, other forms of clean energy are also set to grow, albeit at a slower pace.
Onshore wind installations will increase from 505 gigawatts over the previous five years to 732 gigawatts between 2025 and 2030, while offshore wind will more than double from 60 gigawatts to 140 gigawatts. Hydropower, however, will see a modest rebound after a couple of years of decline but won't reach the expansion levels seen in the early to mid-2010s.
Despite these impressive figures, the world is still falling short of the goal set at COP28 to triple renewable capacity by the end of this decade compared to 2023. As global leaders gather in Brazil for COP30 in just a few weeks, the IEA's figures highlight the steep climb towards a sustainable future. The challenge is clear, and the need for action is urgent. The world must accelerate its transition to renewable energy to meet the climate crisis head-on.
