Powering an equitable energy future

Interview with
Francesco La Camera, director-general, IRENA

Why is it so urgent to reinforce the renewables revolution now?

The gap between where we are now and where we should be is closing. In 2024, we added record levels of renewables for the third consecutive year. Our preliminary data for 2025 are very promising: we could break records yet again and add around 700 gigawatts of renewable capacity this year. Although the progress we are making is not enough, with G20 countries needing to more than double installed renewables by 2030, the gap is narrowing. And that’s exactly why we must accelerate, because the effort is now more achievable than ever.

How is IRENA working to increase the pace of progress to close that gap?

IRENA used to be mainly a think tank. Our reports influenced policy, but we also wanted our knowledge to drive deployment and investment on the ground. So we created the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform, which now brings together 14 partners from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to the World Bank.

We also focused our analytical work at the regional level to reflect local characteristics and build stronger investment frameworks. Our regional outlooks provide domestic support, helping countries align national energy planning with regional priorities. This approach promotes the development of projects that are supported by countries through their own energy plans. We also assess the bankability of these projects and connect them with potential investors through our investment forums. The last forum in Nairobi was highly successful, and the next will take place in Sierra Leone at the end of October.

What progress have you recently made?

IRENA has become the agency responsible for tracking and monitoring the global commitment to triple installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. This places us in the role of a custodian agency, responsible for assessing global progress and recommending the priorities needed to stay on course. It represents a major recognition of
IRENA’s leadership and expertise. This year’s progress report was presented in October to the delegations at the preparatory meetings of the UN Climate Conference in Brazil.

The new report clearly confirms that global investments in renewable power hit a record high of $624 billion in 2024, a notable 7% increase from 2023. Yet, despite this encouraging progress, the pace and scale of investment remain insufficient. To meet global climate and energy targets, annual investments in renewables will need to more than double between 2025 and 2030.

What major tasks remain?

IRENA has long pointed to the infrastructure gaps as a key barrier to progress on renewable energy deployment. We need to rewrite how international cooperation works and link the idea of development with the idea of building the infrastructure needed for energy systems to run on renewables. 

Investments in grids are not expanding fast enough. This will be critical to support a growing share of renewables, together with more energy storage solutions to provide grid stability. But there are other barriers to overcome, such as the legal environment. The demand is also not enough, so we need policies that ensure markets are ready to work with more renewables. And the workforce must be empowered: the challenge of re-skilling workers so they can move from one sector to another will define the next decade.

How can the G20 leaders at their Johannesburg Summit best help?

South Africa has identified the right topics for its G20 presidency: energy security, especially energy access for Africa, and infrastructure. All are urgently vital for a more inclusive energy transition that is yet to unfold. 

Although renewables continue to break global records, our data show that Asia, Europe and North America accounted for 85.4% of the installed renewable capacity while Africa holds just 1.6% of the global total, despite the continent’s vast renewable energy potential. 

By working together to address the systemic barriers that hinder progress, especially in developing countries, we can close regional divides and make the tripling objective a truly shared global success story. At the next IRENA Assembly, we aim to reaffirm that renewables can serve the human cause and form the foundation of an energy system that is inclusive and equitable across the globe.