Global Solar Installations Skyrocket 64% in Early 2025

• Solar installations skyrocket 64% in 2025, adding 380 GW. Cheaper modules and streamlined processes drive growth, but supply-chain challenges loom. A new era for solar scalability begins.

Global solar installations surged by 64% in the first half of 2025, with 380 GW of new capacity added, according to Ember. This marks a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024, when annual additions didn't reach 350 GW until September. The growth is driven by cheaper, more efficient solar modules, streamlined permitting processes, and increased corporate and utility procurement. The integration of solar with battery storage is becoming standard, enhancing value and reducing curtailment.

However, the rapid expansion faces challenges, including supply-chain overcapacity in China affecting upstream margins. Policymakers are working to maintain quality standards and competitive costs. If the second half of 2025 matches the first, it could redefine expectations for solar scalability, as grids strive to enhance storage and flexibility.

What factors contributed to the 64% surge in global solar installations in 2025?

• Decrease in production costs for solar panels due to technological advancements and economies of scale.
  
• Government incentives and subsidies promoting renewable energy adoption.
  
• Increased global awareness and commitment to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.
  
• Expansion of solar markets in emerging economies, contributing to global growth.
  
• Improved financing options and investment in solar projects.
  
• Enhanced international cooperation and agreements on renewable energy targets.
• Development of new solar technologies, such as bifacial panels and perovskite cells, increasing efficiency.
  
• Rising energy demand and the need for energy security driving solar adoption.
  
• Corporate sustainability goals leading to higher procurement of solar energy.
• Advances in grid infrastructure and smart grid technologies facilitating solar integration.