Solar power installations worldwide see a significant surge, reaching 380 gigawatts during the initial half of 2025, marking a 64% increase.
In the first half of 2025, the solar power sector has experienced a dramatic surge, with China leading the charge. The Middle Kingdom accounted for the majority of the global solar capacity installations, installing a staggering 256 GW - more than twice as much as the rest of the world combined. This represents a 67% share of the total installed capacity, according to recent reports.
India came in second, installing 24 GW of solar capacity, and the United States followed closely behind with 21 GW, marking an increase of 4% year-on-year despite recent moves by the US government to restrict clean power deployment. These figures reflect a significant contribution by the U.S. to new electricity generation, as part of a broader trend towards renewable energy sources.
The rapid expansion of solar capacity has made solar the fastest growing source of new electricity generation worldwide. In 2024, global solar output rose by 28%, adding 469 TWh compared to the previous year. This momentum has continued into 2025, with 380 GW of new solar capacity installed worldwide, a 64% increase from the 232 GW installed in the same period in 2024.
The Ember report predicts that solar would account for more than half of the 64 GW that developers plan to bring online this year globally. If all 64 GW of planned capacity additions come online in the U.S. this year, it would set a new record, outstripping the previous 58 GW record set in 2002.
The shift towards distributed energy resources is a global trend. Utilities are moving away from a model that relies heavily on large power plants, and towards one that includes distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles. A trendline indicates the rapid growth of these resources, with solar capacity additions surpassing 350 GW in June 2025, compared to September 2024.
Battery storage, wind, and natural gas power plants account for virtually all of the remaining capacity additions for 2025 in the U.S. Renewables made up 91% of the 15 GW of generation the US added in the first five months of 2025. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts an additional 21 GW of solar capacity will be installed in the U.S. over the second half of 2025.
The global trend of shifting towards distributed energy resources includes the increased adoption of solar capacity, battery storage, and electric vehicles. The three largest solar market leaders worldwide in the first half of 2025 are China, the United States, and India, with installed capacities approximately as follows: China added around 30 GW, the United States about 10 GW, and India close to 8 GW of new solar capacity during this period.
The increase in solar capacity installations in 2025 is significantly higher than the increase in 2024, signalling a continued commitment to renewable energy sources and a reduction in reliance on fossil fuels. The rapid expansion of solar power is set to play a crucial role in meeting global energy demands and combating climate change.
