Global solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity experienced another record-breaking year in 2025, reaching 647GW in new installations, an 11% increase over the previous year. According to data from the think tank Ember, the combined growth of wind and solar added 814GW to the global grid, with solar significantly outpacing wind. While China remains the dominant force, contributing over half of the world’s new capacity, India also saw substantial growth. This rapid expansion has pushed cumulative global solar capacity toward the 3TW milestone, offering a critical alternative to volatile fossil fuel markets.
The renewable energy sector reached a significant milestone in 2025 as global solar PV installations hit 647GW. This surge represents an 11% year-on-year growth, reinforcing solar’s position as the primary driver of the global energy transition. When paired with wind power, the two technologies contributed a combined 814GW of new capacity. Notably, the expansion of solar has become increasingly dominant, with nearly 4GW of solar power installed for every 1GW of wind.
China continues to lead the global market, accounting for 378GW—more than 50% of the world’s new solar PV capacity in 2025. A significant portion of this growth occurred during the first five months of the year, fueled by a pricing reform for grid-connected renewables. This policy shift prompted a rush to complete projects before June, resulting in a staggering 111GW of installations in May alone. However, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) anticipates a cooling period, forecasting between 180GW and 240GW of new capacity for 2026.
In contrast, India is showing signs of accelerated momentum. The country installed 49GW of solar PV in 2025, a sharp rise from the 31.9GW recorded the previous year. Unlike China’s projected slowdown, India’s market is expected to expand further in 2026, with estimates suggesting new additions could reach 42.5GW. These figures highlight India’s growing role in the global renewable landscape, supported by data from regional research firms Mercom and JMK Research.
The total cumulative solar PV capacity reached 2.9TW by the end of 2025 and is projected to have surpassed the 3TW mark in early 2026. This rapid scaling is evident in the timeline of global milestones; it took only two years for the world to jump from 1TW to 2TW of total capacity. Leonard Heberer, a data analyst at Ember, noted that the speed of this expansion is unprecedented in the history of the power sector, positioning wind and solar as the future backbone of global electricity.
Beyond environmental benefits, the shift toward renewables is providing significant economic and geopolitical security. Ember reports that since the onset of recent conflicts in the Middle East, global solar and wind output has displaced approximately 330TWh of gas-fired generation. This shift has saved an estimated US$40 billion in fuel costs. Energy strategist Kingsmill Bond emphasized that solar, wind, and battery storage offer nations a path to energy independence that is faster to deploy and more cost-effective than relying on imported fossil fuels.