IRENA: 1.5°C pathway needs 38.2 TW renewable power by 2050
IRENA's 2026 outlook says electricity must reach over half of final energy use by 2050, requiring 38.2 TW of renewables and USD 256 trillion in investment.
What you need to know
IRENA's World Energy Transition Outlook 2026 says the shift to clean energy is progressing too slowly and unevenly. Its revised 1.5°C Scenario calls for electricity to rise from about 23% of final energy consumption today to more than 50% by 2050, backed by 38.2 TW of renewable capacity and USD 256 trillion in cumulative investment.
- Electricity's share of final energy use would grow from roughly 23% today to 35% by 2035 and over 50% by 2050.
- Renewable power capacity would reach about 18.4 TW by 2035 and 38.2 TW by 2050.
- Cumulative investment and expenditure from 2026 to 2050 would exceed USD 256 trillion, about USD 10.3 trillion a year.
Electricity at the centre of the pathway
IRENA's revised 1.5°C Scenario treats electrification, energy efficiency, grids, storage and flexibility as the main drivers of the transition, supported by renewable energy, clean hydrogen and sustainable biomass. Electricity's share of global final energy consumption would climb from about 23% today to 35% by 2035 and beyond 50% by 2050.
By 2050, electricity would supply around 77% of final energy use in buildings, 47% in transport and 42% in industry. Sustainable bioenergy, renewable hydrogen and other sustainable fuels would complement direct electrification where the latter is harder to apply.
Regional differences and investment
The report says there is a common goal but no single pathway, since countries start from different positions. By 2050, electricity would make up about 64% of final energy consumption in the European Union, around 53% in ASEAN, and close to 50% in Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Reaching the scenario would require expanding grids, storage and flexibility alongside more than USD 256 trillion in cumulative investment and expenditure between 2026 and 2050, or roughly USD 10.3 trillion a year.
Economic gains and implementation
IRENA estimates a 1.5°C-compatible pathway could raise average global GDP by about 1.1% relative to current plans, producing around USD 47 trillion in cumulative gains by 2050. It says affordability, social protection, skills and equitable access to new opportunities must be built into implementation, with integrated national and regional planning.
How much renewable power capacity does IRENA's 1.5°C Scenario envisage by 2050?
The scenario projects about 38.2 terawatts of renewable power capacity by 2050, rising from roughly 18.4 terawatts by 2035, alongside sharp growth in electricity's share of final energy use.
Sources & context
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