IRENA Urges Faster Renewable Energy Expansion to Boost Global Energy Security

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has urged governments worldwide to accelerate renewable energy deployment as a strategic response to rising geopolitical instability and fossil fuel market volatility.

In a new policy advisory released recently, IRENA said that the rapid expansion of renewable energy systems is helping countries transition from an 'energy crisis' toward long-term 'energy security,' particularly amid ongoing disruptions in global oil and gas markets linked to tensions in the Middle East.

The agency noted that renewables are already reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels in countries including Spain, Portugal, China, India and Pakistan. Globally, renewable power capacity additions reached a record 692 GW in 2025.

IRENA highlighted the sharp decline in renewable energy costs over the past decade, stating that more than 85 percent of new renewable projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel-based power generation. Since 2010, solar power costs have dropped by 87 percent, onshore wind by 55 percent, and battery storage by 93 percent.

The agency also emphasised the growing role of 'firm renewables', renewable systems paired with battery storage, which can provide round-the-clock electricity at costs lower than many fossil fuel-fired plants.

“The current crisis clearly demonstrates the strategic case for renewables as a national security imperative,” said Francesco La Camera. He added that governments should prioritize policies that accelerate renewable energy deployment and electrification across industries and transport systems.

According to IRENA, the continued reliance on fossil fuels exposes national energy systems to price shocks and supply disruptions, with broader impacts on inflation, economic activity and vulnerable communities.

The advisory recommends several immediate actions for policymakers, including accelerating distributed renewable projects, supporting solar-plus-battery mini-grids, promoting energy-saving measures, expanding time-of-use electricity tariffs, and incentivizing electrification of transport and public mobility.

For  the medium term, IRENA called for faster approvals for renewable and grid infrastructure projects, increased battery storage deployment, stronger grid flexibility measures, and expanded support for EV charging infrastructure and sustainable aviation fuels.

In the long term, the agency said that governments must establish stable policy frameworks, strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains, integrate electrification into national planning, and support industrial decarbonization and hybrid renewable energy systems.