IRENA Renewable Energy Electrification Targets
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released a report titled “Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: A Roadmap Powered by Renewables, Electrification and Grid Enhancement” in May 2026. Prepared in collaboration with the Brazilian COP30 Presidency, the report establishes that global climate targets cannot be met by simply adding clean energy generation capacity. It warns that current global energy systems are structurally unprepared for the 1.5°C climate pathway. To fix this gap, IRENA proposes a global electrification target where electricity becomes the dominant energy carrier, rising from 23% of total final energy consumption today to 35% by 2035 and surpassing 50% by 2050.
Core Targets of the 1.5°C Energy Pathway
Global Electrification Milestones
The roadmap demands a doubling of the current pace of electrification across the globe. Electricity must cover 35% of total final energy consumption by 2035 and exceed 50% by 2050. Renewables are projected to supply the vast majority of this power, with their share in global electricity generation rising from 30% in 2023 to 78% by 2035, and reaching 92% by 2050.
Renewable Capacity Expansion
To support increased power demand, total global installed renewable energy capacity must scale up significantly:
- Current Status: Global renewable capacity reached 5.14 Terawatts (TW) by the end of 2025.
- 2035 Target: Capacity must expand to 18.4 TW.
- 2050 Target: Total capacity must hit 38.2 TW.
Energy Storage Requirements
Energy storage installations must scale up to balance the variable nature of solar and wind energy. Global installed energy storage capacity must grow from 416 Gigawatts (GW) in 2025 to 2,530 GW by 2035, eventually reaching 6,859 GW by 2050. This expansion is supported by a 93% decline in battery costs, which dropped from $2,571 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2010 to $192 per kWh in 2024.
Infrastructure and Financial Bottlenecks
The Grid Connection Queue
The primary obstacle to the clean energy transition is inadequate power grid infrastructure. Worldwide, approximately 2,500 GW of solar, wind, and energy storage projects are currently stalled in grid connection queues due to a lack of transmission capacity.
Capital Investment Surge
To avoid network congestion, power curtailment, and high electricity costs, global investments in transmission and distribution systems must double. Annual grid investment must rise from $0.5 trillion in 2025 to an average of $1 trillion per year between 2026 and 2035. Between 2036 and 2050, this requirement will elevate to $1.2 trillion annually. A total of $5.5 trillion is required for power grids and energy flexibility before 2030 alone.
Sectoral Electrification and Efficiency Challenges
End-Use Sector Targets
The transition relies heavily on transforming how buildings, transport, and industries consume energy. The targets for direct electricity usage across these sectors vary:
| End-Use Sector | 2035 Electrification Target | 2050 Electrification Target |
| Buildings | Nearly 55% | Over 75% |
| Transport | Around 15% | Over 45% |
| Industry | Steady incremental growth | Dominated by direct power & green hydrogen |
Energy Efficiency Deficit
The UAE Consensus at COP28 mandated a global target of doubling energy efficiency improvements to a 4% annual rate by 2030. However, global energy intensity improved by only about 1% during 2023 and 2024. Due to this lag, economies must now achieve at least a 5% annual improvement through 2030 to stay aligned with the 1.5°C trajectory.
Geographic Imbalance
Renewable energy deployment remains heavily concentrated in a few jurisdictions. China, the United States, and the European Union combined account for 79.5% of the total installed renewable capacity globally, leaving developing and emerging economies under-invested.
Recommended Policy Measures
Fiscal and Regulatory Interventions
IRENA recommends that national governments implement integrated policy frameworks to accelerate the structural shift away from fossil fuels:
- Phase down fossil fuel subsidies and redirect capital toward clean energy infrastructure.
- Introduce dedicated financial incentives for vehicle electrification, building retrofits, and industrial heat pumps.
- Implement fast-tracked permitting processes for green energy transmission corridors.
Financial and Technical Support
Developing countries require tailored mechanisms to manage transition costs. The report calls for concessional finance options and de-risking mechanisms to attract private capital to emerging markets. Additionally, international cooperation must focus on cross-border electricity trade, workforce training, and technology transfers. For hard-to-abate sectors where direct power usage is unfeasible, green hydrogen, sustainable biomass, and biofuels must be deployed.
IASPOINT Booster Facts for UPSC
- About IRENA: Established in 2011, the International Renewable Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, UAE. It serves as the principal platform for international cooperation on renewable energy.
- Fossil Fuel Decline: Under the IRENA 1.5°C scenario, the global share of fossil fuels across all energy sectors must drop from 80% today to 50% by 2035, and fall to 20% or less by 2050.
- COP29 Global Pledge: The COP29 presidency introduced a storage and grid pledge aimed at expanding or refurbishing 80 million kilometers of transmission lines globally by 2040 and reaching 1,500 GW of global storage by 2030.
- India and IRENA: India is a founder member of IRENA and officially joined as its 77th member in 2009. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) serves as the nodal point for India’s engagement with the agency.