Solar
More new capacity than any other energy source on Earth in 2025.
The world added a record 511 GW of new solar capacity in 2025 — about 75% of all new renewable capacity built that year. Total global solar capacity now stands at 2,383 GW.
Standings
Accounted for roughly 50.4% of all new global renewable capacity in 2025 — the single largest national share by a wide margin.
Grouped with the EU in IRENA’s reporting as accounting for most of the remaining share alongside China (China + US + EU = 79.5% of all new capacity combined); an individual U.S.-only figure wasn’t broken out in the source.
Part of the same combined 79.5% figure as the U.S. above; listed separately since the EU is tracked as its own bloc, not broken out individually from the U.S. in this source.
Key facts
- 511 GW of new solar added worldwide in 2025, a new annual record — PV Tech / IRENA
- China alone made up 50.4% of new global renewable capacity in 2025 — pv magazine USA / IRENA
How this ranking was determined
Ranked by share of new capacity added in 2025, the most recent full-year figures available. China’s number is a specific reported percentage; the US/EU split beneath it is not independently available and is disclosed as such.