“Since the turn of the century, the expansion of solar power has surpassed expectations, more than any other energy source.”

“Global solar energy capacity has skyrocketed over the last decade: 228 gigawatts in 2015, providing 1% of the world's electricity; 759 GW in 2020, or roughly 3% of global energy demand; 2,919 GW in 2025, according to estimates — solar now supplies about 10% of the world's energy, more than nuclear at 9%.”

“China installed 315 GW of new panels in 2025, according to the Chinese energy authority, bringing total capacity to around 1,300 GW.”

“More than 80% of all solar panels are currently produced in China.”

“11% of China's electricity now comes from solar energy. Over the last decade, the share of highly polluting coal power has dropped from 70% to 56%.”

“The European Union, with 406 GW capacity, ranks second in the world when it comes to solar energy expansion. In the EU, solar energy covers roughly 13% of the bloc's electricity demand. Coal only meets 9%, a big drop from 2015, when it still generated a quarter of the EU's power.”

“Leading the way in Europe are Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Hungary, each generating more than 20% of their electricity from solar. Even Germany, with fewer hours of sunlight, is at 18%.”

“With its 119 GW, Germany is the European leader when it comes to installed solar modules, followed by Spain with 56 GW.”

“Even with renewable energy being undermined by the Trump administration, the US still ranks third in the world when it comes to solar energy expansion.”

“With its 267 GW, the US can supply about 8% of its total electricity demand. In 2015, it was only at 1%. Over the last 10 years, the percentage of coal power has dropped by half, from 34% in 2015 to 17% in 2025.”

“India, in fourth place with 136 GW of solar, now generates some 8% of its electricity for its population of 1.45 billion. Japan follows in fifth place, with a solar capacity of 103 GW covering 11% of its electricity demand.”

“Brazil is also building out its solar capacity and is now able to generate around 10% of its national electricity supply. Together with hydropower, wind and biomass, 88% of the country's power comes from renewable sources.”

“In 2015, Pakistan and South Africa each produced less than 1% of their electricity from photovoltaic panels. Ten years later, that has risen to 20% and 10% respectively.”

“72% of new energy capacity added in 2024 was solar, followed by wind at 22%.”

“In just one hour, the sunlight that hits the Earth delivers more energy than humankind would need for an entire year. By installing solar panels on less than 1% of the world's surface, we could cover the world's entire energy demand.”

“More efficient modules and mass production have pushed prices down by around 90%.”

“Solar modules generate electricity at a lower cost than other energy sources. In 2025, solar modules generated electricity at 0.03 euros per kilowatt-hour, compared to 0.05 euros for coal and 0.10 euros for gas.”

“The International Energy Agency predicted in 2020 that solar would supply 10% of global electricity by 2025, but actual capacity reached 10% in 2025.”

“A model by a Finnish university predicts that solar will supply 76% of global electricity by 2050, with wind contributing 20%.”

“Global energy systems will require significant grid expansion, energy storage, and digitalization to accommodate solar growth.”