The next test for renewable energy

‘Global renewable energy capacity reached 5,149 GW in 2025. Last year alone, 692 GW were added, nearly 97% of it solar and wind’ | Photo Credit: AP Last week, India hosted the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit, celebrating India’s double transition: near-universal household access to electricity and meeting surging power demand while building the world’s third-largest renewable energy capacity. This week, Türkiye hosts COP31, with Australia holding the presidency of the climate negotiations. The COP31 hosts have proposed a global electrification target — 35 by 35 — seeking to raise electricity’s share in final energy consumption to 35% globally by 2035. This follows the Brazil COP30 presidency’s efforts to develop a roadmap for transition away from fossil fuels.These moments of political signalling should suggest that the global energy transition is well on track. The reality is more nuanced. Global renewable energy capacity reached 5,149 GW in 2025. Last year alone, 692 GW were added, nearly 97% of it solar and wind. But the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, as agreed in 2023 at India’s G20 summit and via the UAE Consensus at COP28, remains far out on the horizon. Over the remaining four years, more than 1000 GW will have to be added annually. Published - November 10, 2026 01:17 am IST