Solar power has broken unprecedented records worldwide. The industry reached 2 terawatts in late 2024, marking a 33% increase in global capacity. Installers added 597 gigawatts throughout the year, pushing total capacity to 2.2 terawatts by early 2025. This rapid growth shows how quickly countries are adopting renewable energy solutions. The dramatic surge raises important questions about what this means for traditional energy markets, climate goals, and future investment trends.
The solar energy industry has shattered previous records as the world crossed the 2 terawatt (TW) total capacity milestone in late 2024. A massive 597 gigawatts (GW) of new solar power capacity was installed globally throughout the year, marking a 33% increase compared to 2023 installation figures.
Solar capacity shatters records with 2 TW milestone reached and 597 GW added globally in 2024.
By early 2025, total global solar capacity reached 2.2 TW, highlighting the rapid growth of this renewable energy source. What’s remarkable is that while it took nearly 70 years to install the first TW of solar capacity, the second TW was added in just two years.
China continues to dominate the solar market, adding 329 GW of capacity in 2024 alone. This represents 55% of all solar installations worldwide for the year. By the first quarter of 2025, China‘s installed solar power capacity reached 946.3 GW, and it’s expected to surpass 50% of global solar capacity later this year. China’s solar installation rate has been extraordinary, with 59.6 GW added in just the first quarter of 2025.
According to SolarPower Europe’s Global Market Outlook report released in May 2025, solar accounted for a significant portion of the 585 GW renewable capacity additions in 2024. Renewables represented over 90% of total power expansion globally during this period, demonstrating their growing importance in the energy sector.
Looking ahead, global solar PV growth is expected to slow to 10% in 2025, with new installations projected to reach 655 GW. Experts anticipate a temporary dip in global installations in 2026 due to market design modifications in China.
However, the world could be installing 1 TW of solar per year by the end of the decade.
The distribution of solar power remains uneven across regions worldwide. While China leads the energy shift with its dominant market share, European markets continue to show growth. This impressive growth aligns with the broader renewable energy transition that creates three times more jobs than fossil fuel industries.
India is becoming a focus market for solar development in the 2025-2029 period.
As solar capacity grows, battery storage and flexible energy systems are becoming increasingly important for integration. Decisionmakers are being urged to develop flexibility plans that match the reality of solar growth to maximize its potential in renewable energy systems worldwide.
References
- https://finchannel.com/global-solar-pv-growth-expected-to-slow-to-10-in-2025-reaching-655-gw-new-installations/125613/business-2/2025/05/
- https://www.aa.com.tr/en/energy/solar/china-set-to-surpass-50-of-global-solar-capacity-in-2025/48734
- https://www.irena.org/News/pressreleases/2025/Mar/Record-Breaking-Annual-Growth-in-Renewable-Power-Capacity
- https://www.solarpowereurope.org/insights/outlooks/global-market-outlook-for-solar-power-2025-2029
- https://www.globalsolarcouncil.org/news/global-market-outlook-for-solar-power-2025-2029-focus-on-india/
