Global solar energy outlook
In the coming decade, solar PV is expected to continue being the largest contributor to global renewable energy installations, reaching a cumulative capacity of more than seven terawatts
Installed solar energy capacity
Total renewable capacity (on-grid and off-grid) Hydropower Renewable hydropower (including mixed plants) Pumped storage (note that this is included in total hydropower capacity, but
Solar power in the United States
OverviewSolar photovoltaic powerSolar potentialHistoryConcentrated solar power (CSP)Government supportSee alsoFurther reading
In the United States, 14,626 MW of PV was installed in 2016, a 95% increase over 2015 (7,493 MW). During 2016, 22 states added at least 100 MW of capacity. Just 4,751 MW of PV installations were completed in 2013. The U.S. had approximately 440 MW of off-grid photovoltaics as of the end of 2010. Through the end of 2005, a majority of photovoltaics in the United States was off-grid.
35 Latest Solar Power Statistics, Charts & Data [2026]
What is the capacity of solar energy? The world''s current solar energy capacity is 850.2 GW (gigawatts). This is the maximum amount of energy that all global solar installations combined
How Much Solar Energy Does the World Generate?
With the rapid increase in capacity and daily production, solar power is now a central component of the global energy mix. The 2,075 GWh of daily production in 2024 underscores solar''s growing role in
Solar power in the United States
Solar power includes solar farms as well as local distributed generation, mostly on rooftops and increasingly from community solar arrays. In 2024, utility-scale solar power generated 219.8 terawatt
Solar Power by Country 2026
A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that solar power accounted for 54% of new U.S. electricity generation capacity in 2023, with 22 states generating more than 5% of their
Solar, battery storage to lead new U.S. generating capacity additions
In 2024, generators added a record 30 GW of utility-scale solar to the U.S. grid, accounting for 61% of capacity additions last year. We expect this trend will continue in 2025, with 32.5 GW of new utility
Solar PV Energy Factsheet
PV modules typically comprise 60-72 cells arranged in a rectangular grid, laminated between transparent front and structural back surfaces. They usually have metal frames and weigh 34-62 lbs.
Electricity generation from U.S. solar grows 28% year-over-year
Solar continues to dominate new electricity generation capacity added to the grid in the United States, according to the Energy Information Administration''s (EIA) latest release of its Electric
What percent of the world uses solar energy? 2026
As of 2023, solar energy was the world''s third-largest renewable energy technology, behind wind and hydropower — nearly 5.5% of global electricity generation came from solar energy
Solar Power by Country 2026
A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that