In the first half of this year, global solar capacity soared to 380 gigawatts (GW), a remarkable 64% increase compared to 2024 when 232 GW was added during the same period. This information comes from a report by clean energy organization Ember.
According to Ember, reaching 350 GW of added capacity happened six months earlier in 2025 than it did in 2024, where it took until September.
China was the leader in solar installations, contributing a staggering 256 GW—over twice the total added by the rest of the world combined—making up 67% of the global total. For comparison, China accounted for 54% of global solar installations in the first half of 2024.
Following China, India took second place, installing 24 GW, and the United States added 21 GW, reflecting a 4% year-on-year increase despite recent government restrictions on clean power development.
Ember highlighted that solar energy has become the fastest-growing source of new electricity generation. In 2024, global solar energy output rose by 28%, or 469 terawatt-hours (TWh), marking the highest growth compared to any other energy source.
A report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicated that developers plan to install an additional 21 GW of solar capacity in the U.S. during the second half of 2025, building on the 12 GW added in the first half of the year. Recent data showed that renewables comprised 91% of the 15 GW of new generation capacity added in the U.S. in the first five months of 2025.
If developers follow through on their plans, solar could make up more than half of the targeted 64 GW of new capacity for 2025. The remaining capacity would come from battery storage, wind, and natural gas plant additions.
If all planned capacity additions are realized this year, it would set a new record, surpassing the previous high of 58 GW established in 2002, which was mainly due to natural gas developments. The EIA noted that while natural gas continues to be added, other technologies like wind, solar, and battery storage are becoming more prevalent.