The Clean Energy Transition by the Numbers: A 2026 Progress Report
Renewable energy is now the cheapest source of new electricity generation in most of the world and it is being built at unprecedented scale. But is it happening fast enough? Here is a detailed look at where the clean energy transition stands in mid-2026 — the progress made, the gaps that remain, and what the data tells us about the road ahead.
Solar: The Fastest-Growing Energy Source in History
Solar PV capacity additions in 2025 hit a record 520 GW — more than double the total installed capacity a decade ago. The cost of utility-scale solar has fallen by over 90% since 2010. China alone installed 270 GW of solar in 2025, roughly equivalent to the entire US solar fleet built over three decades.
Wind, EVs, and Grid Storage: The Trifecta Driving Decarbonisation
Global EV sales reached 22 million units in 2025, representing 27% of all new car sales, and the IEA projects this will rise to 40% by 2028. Grid-scale battery storage capacity doubled in 2025. Despite extraordinary progress, the IEA estimates that to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, clean energy investment needs to reach 4.5 trillion dollars per year by 2030 — currently running at under 2 trillion.
Tags: Solar Energy | Wind Power | EV Sales | Grid Storage | Clean Energy Transition | IEA 2026
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