Global Solar Growth Hits 600 GW: SolarPower Europe

By Chitrika Grover/ Updated On Wed, May 7th, 2025

Highlights :

By the end of 2024, solar PV made up 46% of global renewable capacity, with 2.2 TW installed.
By 2030, we expect global installed solar PV capacity to exceed 7 TW by 2030.
This would represent about 65% of the total renewable capacity required to meet the 11 TW global target.
Meanwhile, growth in the Middle East and Africa faltered in 2024, with installations declining year-on-year.

Global Solar Growth Hits 600 GW: SolarPower Europe

Global Solar Growth Hits 600 GW, India Adds 30.7 GW in 2024: SolarPower Europe

SolarPower Europe’s latest report reveals that the world installed a record 597 GW of solar power in 2024 – a 33% surge over 2023. After the world crossed the milestone of 2 terawatts (TW) total solar in late 2024, the annual report predicts the world could be installing 1 TW of solar per year by the end of the decade.

This year’s special focus is India, recognized as the third-largest solar market, which more than doubled its installations in 2024. A 145% annual market increase in India meant 30.7 GW of new solar added in 2024, which is a stark uplift from the 12.5 GW installed in 2023. The country’s comprehensive solar strategy is positioning it as a major force in the energy transition, with strong growth projected in the coming years. To meet India’s ambitious national renewable installation target of 500 GW by 2030, the country aims to add another 200 GW of solar within the next 5 years.

While solar continues to grow globally, its distribution remains highly concentrated and uneven. In 2024, China alone added 329 GW of solar capacity – accounting for 55% of global installations. With adjustments in China’s market design in 2025, a temporary dip in global installations in 2026 appears likely.

Growth Within Other regions

Other regions contribute steady, albeit less significant growth, with the Americas and Europe growing by 40% and 15% respectively. Meanwhile, growth in the Middle East and Africa faltered in 2024, with installations declining year-on-year. Accounting for the regional differences, the Global Solar Council has accompanied the analysis with several policy recommendations.

More advanced markets must focus on enhancing grid flexibility, adapting policy frameworks to the needs of variable renewables, prioritizing battery storage, and streamlining permitting and grid-connection processes. For least-developed countries, the key lies in bridging investment gaps. Across all regions, developing a skilled workforce and setting ambitious solar and storage targets are essential tasks.

Markus Elsaesser, the CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, said: “Crossing the 2-terawatt mark is more than just a milestone—it is proof that solar energy has become a cornerstone of the global energy system. But this rapid growth also brings new challenges. We must now ensure that regulation and investment in a flexible and digital energy infrastructure advance just as quickly. Cooperation and knowledge sharing – across industries, regions, and sectors – is essential, as demonstrated every year at The Smarter E Europe.”

Looking forward, the analysis extends through 2029 and includes a preliminary outlook for 2030. By the end of 2024, solar PV made up 46% of global renewable capacity, with 2.2 TW installed. By 2030, we expect global installed solar PV capacity to exceed 7 TW by 2030. This would represent about 65% of the total renewable capacity required to meet the 11 TW global target.

Solar to lead 11 TW global renewable target

The Global Market Outlook For Solar Power At Intersolar Europe in Munich

The Europe region in the Global Market Outlook for Solar Power refers to EU27 + Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council (she/her), said: “It’s been 10 years since the GSC was established, and since then we’ve seen immense progress for solar – but this progress is not seen everywhere. Achieving the global target of tripling renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade is possible with solar, we need 1 TW of solar every year through 2030 and solar progress in more and more countries. That means action now to prepare for the future: smarter grids, faster permitting, bigger investments in emerging markets, and serious workforce planning.”Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe (she/her), said: “The solar age is truly here. While the uptake of solar varies across regions across the world, a common theme is the importance of flexible, electrified energy systems – underpinned by critical technology like battery storage. Decisionmakers across the globe should ensure that their flexibility plans match, and maximise, the solar reality.”