Global solar installations surged by two thirds (64%) in the first half of 2025, new data from Ember has revealed, with 380 GW of new solar capacity added during the period.
This is up from 232 GW of added capacity installed in the same period in 2024, and surpasses a number of previous milestones – in fact, the 350 GW mark was reached by June this year, compared to September last year.
‘Sharp rise’
“These latest numbers on solar deployment in 2025 defy gravity, with annual solar installations continuing their sharp rise,” commented Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy analyst, Ember.
“In a world of volatile energy markets, solar offers domestically produced power that can be rolled out at record speed to meet growing demand, independent of global fossil fuel supply chains.”
Solar is the world’s fastest-growing source of new electricity generation, with global solar output rising by 28% in 2024, compared to the previous year.
China leads the way
China remains the global leader in terms of new solar capacity rollout, accounting for some 67% of global installations during the first half of 2025. In fact, solar capacity in China more than doubled compared to the first half of 2024, with China adding more than twice as much as the rest of the world combined.
‘This growth was spurred in part by developers racing to complete projects before new rules on wind and solar compensation came into effect in June this year,’ Ember noted.
Outside of China, other countries installed around 124 GW of new solar capacity, a 15% increase on the previous year.
India recorded the second-highest growth with 24 GW installed, up 49% from the previous year, while the United States added 21 GW, a 4% increase, despite moves by the Trump administration to rollback renewable energy investment. Solar deployment in Germany and Brazil slightly declined, meanwhile.
Growth in Africa is also ‘beginning to take off’, Ember added, with the volume of solar panels it imported from China rising 60% over the past 12 months.
‘With deployment surging across key markets and China’s rapid scale-up pushing global installations to new highs, 2025 is on track to become another historic year for solar power,’ Ember noted. ‘The numbers highlight not only solar’s momentum, but also its pivotal role in reshaping the global energy system.’ Read more here.
China added more solar in H1-2025 than the rest of the world combined ☀️
— Ember (@ember_energy) September 3, 2025
🇨🇳: 256 GW, 67% of global total, followed by
🇮🇳: 24 GW, and
🇺🇸: 21 GW
Read more: https://t.co/aWyjWZRT1M pic.twitter.com/MOcATtcfZt
