The global pipeline of wind and utility-scale solar projects expanded to almost 5 terawatts (TW) in 2025, yet the world’s wealthiest economies are no longer driving the clean energy buildout.

New analysis from Global Energy Monitor (GEM), said that the clean energy transition is progressing unevenly around the world. China now accounts for more than 1.5 TW of prospective wind and utility-scale solar capacity – roughly matching the combined total of the next six countries: Brazil (401 GW), Australia (368 GW), India (234 GW), the United States (226 GW), Spain (165 GW), and the Philippines (146 GW). G7 countries, despite their wealth, have fallen notably behind China and the rest of the world in year-over-year prospective capacity growth.

The monitor said announced, pre-construction and in construction wind and utility-scale solar capacity grew 11% year-over-year, rising from 4.4 TW to more than 4.9 TW. But while overall momentum continues, growth is increasingly concentrated in emerging economies.

It continued. “China alone hosts 448 GW of wind and utility-scale solar projects currently under construction – half the global total – and its combined operating wind and solar capacity surpassed 1.6 TW in 2025, triple the combined capacity of its closest peers, the United States and India.

“Brazil (401 GW), India (234 GW) and the Philippines (146 GW) are also among the top seven countries with prospective wind and utility-scale solar capacity.”

Meanwhile G7 countries account for only 11% of the world’s prospective wind and utility-scale solar capacity, despite controlling roughly half of global wealth. Their combined pipeline has remained largely unchanged at about 520 gigawatts (GW) since 2023, highlighting a widening gap between climate ambition and implementation in advanced economies.

In addition, GEM’s Global Solar Power Tracker now reports nearly 900 GW of operating distributed solar capacity, which plays a significant role in the clean energy transition. The International Energy Agency estimates that approximately 42% of existing and prospective solar capacity is distributed, underlining its integral role to meet the global pledge to triple renewables capacity by 2030 agreed at the UN COP28 climate conference. China, India, and Brazil are among the top ten countries with distributed solar capacity in operation.

The reports key findings include:

• Globally, utility-scale solar led the expansion of the pipeline. The utility-scale solar pipeline grew by 17% and passed 2.2 TW, while the wind pipeline grew by 7%.
• The world’s richest economies are not driving that growth. The G7 countries, despite controlling roughly half of global wealth, account for 11% of the world’s prospective wind and utility-scale solar capacity additions. The centre of gravity for new clean power has shifted decisively toward emerging and developing economies.
• Distributed solar is a pillar of the clean energy transition, but it is not evenly spread. While it represents about 42% of all existing and prospective solar capacity worldwide, deployment remains heavily concentrated in a small number of countries, leaving significant room to expand.

Diren Kocakuşak, research analyst for Global Energy Monitor, said: “Wind and solar are scaling at breakneck speed, and much of that momentum is coming from countries once seen as energy followers. The question now is whether wealthier countries will close the gap between ambition and execution, or cede leadership in this booming growth sector.”

The monitor said announced, pre-construction and in construction wind and utility-scale solar capacity grew 11% year-over-year, rising from 4.4 TW to more than 4.9 TW. But while overall momentum continues, growth is increasingly concentrated in emerging economies.