PVTIME – SolarPower Europe has unveiled its Global Solar Market Outlook for 2026–2030, outlining the key trends and capacity projections in the photovoltaic industry. A record 664GW of new solar installations were completed worldwide in 2025, marking an annual growth rate of 12%.
Last year, photovoltaics were the main driver of renewable energy expansion, accounting for 77% of all newly commissioned renewable capacity. Global solar output reached 2,778TWh, supplying around 9% of the world’s electricity needs. Cumulative global solar capacity exceeded 3TW at the start of 2026, having tripled within four years.
Regional figures show that China delivered 382GW of new solar capacity in 2025, accounting for 57% of global additions. Meanwhile, India surpassed the United States to become the second largest solar market, deploying 45.7GW and achieving annual growth of 49%. Meanwhile, new installations across the EU27 totalled 67.2GW, rising by a modest 1% amid stable market conditions.
While 2025 set a new deployment benchmark, the sector’s expansion momentum is slowing as it moves into a period of rational consolidation. The report’s base case predicts that new solar capacity will decline by 8% year on year to reach 612GW in 2026, which would mark the first annual reduction in more than 20 years.
Sonia Dunlop, Chief Executive of the Global Solar Council, noted the significant progress of solar-plus-storage projects in India, France, Saudi Arabia, and other major regions in 2025. The analysis confirms the vital strategic role of integrated solar storage amid ongoing geopolitical volatility. Despite adjustments to policy frameworks in major markets, the industry’s long-term outlook remains positive, with cumulative solar capacity expected to double before 2030.
Medium and long-term forecasts indicate that, under the base scenario, annual new installations could reach 864GW and global cumulative capacity could reach 6.6TW by 2030. Under an accelerated growth pathway, total installations could potentially reach 7.6TW. Solar power will remain central to worldwide decarbonisation, providing 60% of the new renewable energy capacity required to meet global targets by 2030.
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